Information playback system using storage information medium

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, there is provided an information playback method, comprising reading out management information used to manage one or more video titles from an information storage medium, the medium storing an advanced content including the management information in which a title timeline indicating playback timings of objects of each video title being individually defined, and playing back objects of each video title in accordance with the title timeline defined in the readout management information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Ser. No. 11/472,347 filed Jun. 22, 2006,and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2005-183537 filed Jun. 23, 2005 the entirecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One embodiment of the invention relates to an information playbacksystem using information storage medium such as an optical disc.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, DVD-Video discs having high image quality and advancedfunctions, and video players which play back these discs have prevailed,and peripheral devices and the like used to play back such multi-channelaudio data have broader options. Accordingly, for content users, anenvironment for personally implementing a home theater that allows theusers to freely enjoy movies, animations, and the like with high imagequality and high sound quality has become available. For contentproviders, a variety of video expressions are available. For example,Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-343254 discloses a techniquewhich can set buttons with arbitrary shapes and can form flexible andvarious menus by setting a graphic unit including highlight informationas an independent stream.

For the existing DVD-Video standards, the content providers and contentusers have the following needs:

1. Realization of flexible and diversified expression formats like acomputer window;

2. Realization of flexible responses to various actions via network; and

3. Realization of easy processing of video related information and easytransmission of information after processing.

The prior arts cannot meet such needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various feature of theinvention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Thedrawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrateembodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing the arrangement of a systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are exemplary tables showing the needs from usersand the like for the existing DVD-Video standards and problems posedwhen the related existing DVD-Video standards are extended, andsolutions of the embodiment of the invention and new effects as a resultof the solutions of the embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary views showing examples of video contentplayback methods by an information recording and playback apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary presentation window at point α when a maintitle, another window for a commercial, and a help icon aresimultaneously presented in (c) of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary data structure of a standard content;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are exemplary views showing the data structure ofan advanced content and explanations of effects and the like;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining the relationship amongvarious objects;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing various categories of informationstorage media;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing different access methods to twodifferent types of contents;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram showing transitions upon playback of theadvanced content and upon playback of the standard content;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart showing a medium identificationprocessing method by an information playback apparatus when aninformation storage medium is mounted;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary flowchart showing a startup sequence in aninformation playback apparatus of only audio;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary block diagram showing the internal structure ofan advanced content playback unit;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view showing an overview of information in aplaylist;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary view showing the file configuration when variousobject streams are recorded on an information storage medium;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary view showing a method of designating a filestorage location;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary view showing a path designation descriptionmethod to a file;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary view showing the data structure in a playlistfile;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are exemplary views showing details of titleinformation in a playlist;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are exemplary views showing details of title attributeinformation, object mapping information, and playback information;

FIG. 21 is an exemplary view showing the relationship between variouspresentation clip elements and corresponding object names of objects tobe presented and used; and

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view showing details contents of respectivepieces of attribute information in an XML tag and playlist tag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments according to the invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general,according to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided aninformation playback method, comprising reading out managementinformation (PLLST) used to manage one or more video titles from aninformation storage medium, the medium storing an advanced contentincluding the management information (PLLST) in which a title timeline(TMLE) indicating playback timings of objects of each video title beingindividually defined, and playing back objects of each video title inaccordance with the title timeline (TMLE) defined in the readoutmanagement information (PLLST).

<System Arrangement>

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a system according to anembodiment of the invention.

This system comprises an information recording and playback apparatus(or an information playback apparatus) 1 which is implemented as apersonal computer (PC), a recorder, or a player, and an informationstorage medium DISC implemented as an optical disc which is detachablefrom the information recording and playback apparatus 1. The system alsocomprises a display 13 which displays information stored in theinformation storage medium DISC, information stored in a persistentstorage PRSTR, information obtained from a network server NTSRV via arouter 11, and the like. The system further comprises a keyboard 14 usedto make input operations to the information recording and playbackapparatus 1, and the network server NTSRV which supplies information viathe network. The system further comprises the router 11 which transmitsinformation provided from the network server NTSRV via an optical cable12 to the information recording and playback apparatus 1 in the form ofwireless data 17. The system further comprises a wide-screen TV monitor15 which displays image information transmitted from the informationrecording and playback apparatus 1 as wireless data, and loudspeakers16-1 and 16-2 which output audio information transmitted from theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1 as wireless data.

The information recording and playback apparatus 1 comprises aninformation recording and playback unit 2 which records and plays backinformation on and from the information storage medium DISC, and apersistent storage drive 3 which drives the persistent storage PRSTRthat includes a fixed storage (flash memory or the like), removablestorage (secure digital (SD) card, universal serial bus (USB) memory,portable hard disk drive (HDD), and the like). The apparatus 1 alsocomprises a recording and playback processor 4 which records and playsback information on and from a hard disk device 6, and a main centralprocessing unit (CPU) 5 which controls the overall information recordingand playback apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 further comprises the harddisk device 6 having a hard disk for storing information, a wirelesslocal area network (LAN) controller 7-1 which makes wirelesscommunications based on a wireless LAN, a standard content playback unitSTDPL which plays back a standard content STDCT (to be described later),and an advanced content playback unit ADVPL which plays back an advancedcontent ADVCT (to be described later).

The router 11 comprises a wireless LAN controller 7-2 which makeswireless communications with the information recording and playbackapparatus 1 based on the wireless LAN, a network controller 8 whichcontrols optical communications with the network server NTSRV, and adata manager 9 which controls data transfer processing.

The wide-screen TV monitor 15 comprises a wireless LAN controller 7-3which makes wireless communications with the information recording andplayback apparatus 1 based on the wireless LAN, a video processor 24which generates video information based on information received by thewireless LAN controller 7-3, and a video display unit 21 which displaysthe video information generated by the video processor 24 on thewide-screen TV monitor 15.

Note that the detailed functions and operations of the system shown inFIG. 1 will be described later.

<Solutions and Effects>

Needs from the users and the like for the existing DVD-Video standardsand problems posed when the related existing DVD-Video standards areextended, and solutions in the embodiment of the invention and neweffects as a result of such solutions will be described below withreference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. As described above, there are thefollowing three needs from the content providers and content users forthe existing DVD-Video standards:

1. Realization of flexible and diversified expression formats likecomputer window;

2. Realization of flexible responses to various actions via network; and

3. Realization of easy processing of video related information and easytransmission of information after processing.

When 1, “Realization of flexible and diversified expression formats likecomputer window,” above, is to be made by only a minor change of theexisting DVD-Video standards, since user requests are of too greatervariety, the following problem is posed. That is, such need cannot bemet by only a custom-made like minor change of the data structure in theexisting DVD-Video standards. As technical device contents to solve thisproblem, this embodiment adopts expression formats in the PC worldhaving versatility, and newly introduces the concept of timeline. As aresult, according to this embodiment, the following new effects can beobtained.

1] Make flexible and impressive reactions in response to user's actions:

1.1) Make response by means of change in animation and image at the timeof button selection or execution instruction;

1.2) Make voice response at the time of button selection or executioninstruction;

1.3) Start execution operation at purposely delayed timing in responseto user's execution instruction;

1.4) Give voice answer to help (like PC); and

1.5) Audibly and visually output how to use guide of menu, etc.

2] Allow flexible switching processing for video information itself andits playback method:

2.1) Switching presentation of audio information;

2.2) Switching presentation of subtitle information (telop, subtitle,still picture icon, etc.);

2.3) Allow enlarged-scale presentation of subtitle according to user'sfavor;

2.4) Allow user to mark subtitle and to issue subtitle executioncommand; and

2.5) Mark specific video part in synchronism with comment while moviedirector is making that comment.

3] Simultaneously present independent information to be superimposed onvideo information during playback:

3.1) Simultaneously present a plurality of pieces of video informationby means of multi-windows;

3.2) Allow to freely switch window size of each of multi-windows;

3.3) Simultaneously present prior audio message and after-recorded audiomessage by user;

3.4) Simultaneously present scrolling text to be superimposed on videoinformation; and

3.5) Simultaneously present graphic menus and figures (of selectbuttons, etc.) in flexible forms.

4] Allow easy search to video location to be seen:

4.1) Conduct keyword (text) search of location to be seen usingpull-down menu.

As for 2, “Realization of flexible responses to various actions vianetwork,” above, a disjunction between the data structure specified bythe existing DVD-Video standards and a network compatible window is toolarge. As technical device contents to solve this problem, thisembodiment adopts a homepage presentation format (XML and scripts) of aWeb which has a good track record in window expression of a network as abasic part of the data management structure, and adjusts a videoplayback management format to it. As a result, according to theembodiment of the invention, the following new effects can be obtained.

5] Provide update function of information on disc using network:

5.1) Automatic updating of object information and intra-disc managementinformation;

5.2) Network downloading of how to use guide of menus;

5.3) Notification of automatic updating of information to user;

5.4) Notification of OK/NG of update information presentation to user;and

5.5) Manual update function by user.

6] Real-time online processing:

6.1) Switching or mixing processing to audio information downloaded vianetwork upon video playback (commentary presentation by means of voiceof movie director);

6.2) Network shopping; and

6.3) Interactive real-time video change.

7] Real-time information sharing with another user via network:

7.1) Simultaneously present specific window even for another user atremote place;

7.2) Play battle game or interactive game with another user at remoteplace;

7.3) Participate in chatting during video playback; and

7.4) Transmit or receive message to or from fan club simultaneously withvideo playback.

When 3, “Realization of easy processing of video related information andeasy transmission of information after processing,” above, is to beimplemented by a minor change of the existing DVD-Video standards,complicated edit processing cannot be flexibly and easily coped with. Inorder to flexibly and easily cope with the complicated edit processing,a new management data structure is needed. As technical device contentsto solve this problem, this embodiment adopts XML and the concept oftimeline to be described later. As a result, according to the embodimentof the invention, the following new effects can be obtained.

8] Allow user to select and generate playlist and to transmit it:

8.1) Allow user to select or generate playlist;

8.2) Allow user to transmit playlist selected or generated by him or herto friend;

8.3) Allow to play back playlist selected or generated by user only onspecific disc;

8.4) Allow user to also select collection of highlight scenes of videoinformation;

8.5) Publish scrapbook that captures favorite frames in videoinformation on Web; and

8.6) Store and play back angles or scenes in multi-angles ormulti-scenes selected by user.

9] Allow user to append specific information related with videoinformation and to transmit result via network:

9.1) Allow user to add comment about video information, and to share itwith another user on network;

9.2) Paste input image to character's face in video information;

9.3) Paste user information or experience information upon seeing videoinformation onto image information; and

9.4) Use user information in parental lock to impose automaticlimitation on video information to be presented.

10] Automatically save playback log information:

10.1) Provide automatic saving function of resume (playback pause)information;

10.2) Automatically save halfway information of game progress untilprevious time; and

10.3) Automatically save previous playback environment (battle gameenvironment with a plurality of users, etc.).

In order to meet the three needs shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, thisembodiment innovates the XML and scripts and the concept of timeline incorrespondence with the expression format in the PC world. However, bymerely adopting such data structure, compatibility with the existingDVD-Video standards is lost. In order to meet the requirements of theusers and the like described using FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, networkconnection is needed, and it becomes difficult to provide a veryinexpensive information playback apparatus to the user. Hence, thisembodiment adopts an arrangement which can use the advanced contentADVCT which meets the requirements of the users and the like describedusing FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, and the standard content STDCT which cannotmeet the requirements of the users and the like described using FIGS.2A, 2B, and 2C but can be played back by a very inexpensive informationplayback apparatus (without any precondition of Internet connection)while assuring the compatibility to the existing DVD-Video standards.This point is a large technical feature in this embodiment.

Note that the data structure of the standard content STDCT and that ofthe advanced content ADVCT will be described in detail later.

<Example of Content Playback Method>

FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of video content playback methods by theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1.

An example of a case is shown in (a) of FIG. 3A wherein a main title 31is presented like a television broadcast video information after videoinformation 42 used to give an explanation of detailed navigation,commercial 44 for a product, service, or the like is presented to beinserted into the main title 31, a preview 41 of a movie is presentedafter completion of presentation of the main title 31.

An example of a case is shown in (b) of FIG. 3B wherein a main title 31is presented like a television broadcast video information after videoinformation 42 used to give an explanation of detailed navigation, acommercial 43 in the form of a telop is presented to be superimposed onpresentation of the main title 31, and a preview 41 of a movie ispresented after completion of presentation of the main title 31.

An example of a case is shown in (c) of FIG. 3B wherein a preview 41 ofa movie is presented after video information 42 used to give anexplanation of detailed navigation, a main title 31 is then presented,an independent window 32 for a commercial is presented on a presentationarea different from the main title 31 during presentation of the maintitle 31, and a help icon 33 is presented on a presentation areadifferent from the main title 31 during presentation of the preview 41and main title 31.

Note that what kind of information is used to present the main title,commercial, preview, telop commercial, and the like will be described indetail later.

<Example of Presentation Window>

FIG. 4 shows an example of a presentation window at point α when themain title 31, the independent window 32 for a commercial, and the helpicon 33 are simultaneously presented in (c) of FIG. 3B.

In the example of this presentation window, the main title 31 ispresented as a moving picture of a main picture on the upper left area,the independent window 32 for a commercial is presented as a movingpicture of a sub-picture on the upper right area, and the help icon 33is presented as a still picture (graphic) on the lower area. Also, astop button 34, play button 35, FR (fast-rewinding) button 36, pausebutton 37, FF (fast-forwarding) button 38, and the like are alsopresented as still pictures (graphics). In addition, a cursor (notshown) or the like is presented.

Note that what kind of information is used to present each individualmoving picture or still picture on the presentation window will bedescribed in detail later.

<Content Type>

This embodiment defines 2 types of contents; one is Standard Content andthe other is Advanced Content. Standard Content consists of Navigationdata and Video object data on a disc. On the other hand, AdvancedContent consists of Advanced Navigation such as Playlist, Manifest,Markup and Script files and Advanced Data such as Primary/SecondaryVideo Set and Advanced Element (image, audio, text and so on). At leastone Playlist file and Primary Video Set shall be located on a disc whichhas Advanced Content, and other data can be on a disc and also bedelivered from a server.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

This embodiment defines two different types of contents, i.e., thestandard content STDCT and the advanced content ADVCT. This point is alarge technical feature in this embodiment.

The standard content STDCT of this embodiment includes enhanced videoobject EVOB which records video information itself and navigation dataIFO which records management information of that enhanced video object.The standard content STDCT has a data structure obtained by purelyextending the existing DVD-Video data structure.

By contrast, the advanced content ADVCT has a data structure whichrecords various kinds of information to be described later.

FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the standard content STDCT, and FIGS.6A, 6B, and 6C shows the data structure of an advanced content andexplanations of effects and the like. FIG. 7 shows the relationshipamong various objects in this embodiment. These figures will be referredto as needed in the following description.

<Standard Content>

Standard Content is just extension of content defined in DVD-Videospecification especially for high-resolution video, high-quality audioand some new functions. Standard Content basically consists of one VMGspace and one or more VTS spaces (which are called as “Standard VTS” orjust “VTS”), as shown in FIG. 5. In comparison to the existing DVD-Videospecification, this embodiment gives new functionalities. For instance,

Extension of Video stream such as codec/resolution

Extension of Audio stream such as codec/frequency/channel number

Extension of Sub-picture stream/Highlight Information stream

Extension of Navigation Command

Elimination of some restrictions for FP_DOM/VMGM_DOM/VTSM_DOM

Elimination of some restrictions for transition among domains

Introduction of Resume Sequence, and so on

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The data structure of the standard content STDCT will be described belowusing FIG. 5.

The standard content STDCT includes a video manager VMG that representsa menu frame, and a standard video title set SVTS that records videodata.

The video manager VMG that records the menu frame includes enhancedvideo object EVOB that records video information itself, and navigationdata IFO that records management data of that EVOB. The standard videotitle set SVTS includes enhanced video object EVOB that records videoinformation itself and navigation data IFO that records management dataof that EVOB.

The standard content STDCT represents an extended structure of thecontent specified by the conventional DVD-Video. Especially, newfunctionalities that improve the resolution of video data and the soundquality of audio data compared to the conventional DVD-Video are added.As shown in FIG. 5, the standard content STDCT consists of one videomanager VMG space, and one or more video title set VTS spaces, which iscalled the standard video title set SVTS or VTS.

In comparison to the existing DVD-Video specification, this embodimentgives the following new functionalities.

-   -   A new compression method which assures a high resolution for        video information and a high compression efficiency is adopted.    -   The number of channels of audio information is increased, and a        higher sampling frequency is supported. An audio information        compression method that assures high sound quality and a high        compression efficiency is adopted.    -   Sub-picture information are extended, and a new stream for        highlight information is defined.    -   Navigation command is extended.    -   Some restrictions which are conventionally included in a first        play domain that executes processing upon activation, a video        manager domain that manages a menu image, and a video title set        domain that executes processing upon playback of video        information are eliminated, thus allowing more flexible        expression.    -   Some restrictions for transition among domains are eliminated,        thus defining a more flexible expression environment.    -   A new resume sequence function that represents processing upon        pausing playback is added, and user's convenience after pausing        is improved.

<Standard VTS>

Standard VTS is basically used in Standard Content, however this VTS maybe utilized in Advanced Content via time map TMAP. The EVOB may containsome specific information for Standard Content, and such information ashighlight information HLI and presentation control information PCI shallbe ignored in Advanced Content.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The standard video title set SVTS in this embodiment is basically usedon the standard content STDCT described above. However, this standardvideo title set SVTS may be utilized in the advanced content ADVCT via atime map TMAP (to be described later).

The enhanced video object EVOB as object data used in the standard videotitle set SVTS may contain some pieces of specific information for thestandard content STDCT. Some pieces of specific information contain,e.g., highlight information HLI and presentation control information PCIwhich are used in the standard content STDCT, but shall be ignored inthe advanced content ADVCT in this embodiment.

<HDDVD_TS Directory>

“HVDVD_TS” directory shall exist directly under the root directory. Allfiles related with Primary Video Set (i.e. a VMG, Standard Video Set(s)and an Advanced VTS) shall reside under this directory.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The directory structure upon recording the standard content STDCT shownin FIG. 5 in the information storage medium DISC will be describedbelow. In this embodiment, the standard content STDCT and the advancedcontent ADVCT (to be described later) are recorded in the HDDVD_TSdirectory together. The HDDVD_TS directory exists directly under theroot directory of the information storage medium DISC. For example, allfiles related with a primary video set PRMVS (to be described later)such as the video manager VMG, standard video title set SVTS, and thelike shall reside under this directory.

<Video Manager (VMG)>

A Video Manager Information (VMGI), an Enhanced Video Object for FirstPlay Program Chain Menu (FP_PGCM_EVOB), a Video Manager Information forbackup (VMGI_BUP) shall be recorded respectively as a component fileunder the HVDVD_TS directory. An Enhanced Video Object Set for VideoManager Menu (VMGM_EVOBS) which should be divided into up to 98 filesunder the HVDVD_TS directory. For these files of a VMGM_EVOBS, everyfile shall be allocated contiguously.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

Components of the video manager VMG shown in FIG. 5 will be describedbelow. The video manager VMG basically include menu frame informationand control information of the conventional DVD-Video. Under theaforementioned HDDVD_TS directory, video manager information VMGI,enhanced video object EVOB related with a menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which is tobe presented first immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC, video manager information VMGI_BUP as backup dataof the navigation data IFO of the video manager VMG, and the like areseparately recorded as component files.

Under the HDDVD_TS directory, an enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBSrelated with a video manager menu has a size of 1 GB or more, and thesedata shall be recorded while being divided into up to 98.

In a read-only information storage medium in this embodiment, all thefiles of the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video managermenu shall be allocated contiguously for the sake of convenience uponplayback. In this manner, since the information of the enhanced videoobject set VMGM_EVOBS related with the video manager menu is recorded atone location together, data access convenience, data collectionconvenience, and high presentation speed can be assured.

<Standard Video Title Set (Standard VTS)>

A Video Title Set Information (VTSI) and a Video Title Set Informationfor backup (VTSI_BUP) shall be recorded respectively as a component fileunder the HVDVD_TS directory. An Enhanced Video Object Set for VideoTitle Set Menu (VTSM_EVOBS), and an Enhanced Video Object Set for Titles(VTSTT_EVOBS) may be divided into up to 99 files. These files shall becomponent files under the HVDVD_TS directory. For these files of aVTSM_EVOBS, and a VTSTT_EVOBS, every file shall be allocatedcontiguously.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, video title set information VTSI and backup dataVTSI_BUP of the video title set information shall be recordedrespectively as a component file under the HDDVD_TS directory. The sizesof an enhanced video object set VTSM_EVOBS of a video title set menu andan enhanced video object set VTSTT_EVOBS of each title are allowed toexceed 1 GB. However, their data should be recorded while being dividedinto up to 99 files. As a result, each file size can be set to be 1 GBor less. These files shall be independent component files under theHDDVD_TS directory. Every file of the enhanced video object setVTSM_EVOBS of the video title set menu and the enhanced video object setVTSTT_EVOBS of each title shall be allocated contiguously, respectively.As a result, since data are recorded at one location, the data accessconvenience, speeding up, and easy data processing management can beattained, and these pieces of information for the user can be presentedat high speed.

<Structure of Standard Video Title Set (VTS)>

A VTS is a collection of Tides. Each VTS is composed of control datareferred to as Video Title Set Information (VTSI), Enhanced Video ObjectSet for the VTS Menu (VTSM_VOBS), Enhanced Video Object Set for Titlesin a VTS (VTSTT_EVOBS) and backup control data (VTSI_P).

The following rules shall apply to Video Title Set (VTS):

1) Each of the control data (VTSI) and the backup of control data(VTSI_BUP) shall be a single File.

2) Each of the EVOBS for the VTS Menu (VTSM_EVOBS) and the EVOBS forTitles in a VTS (VTSTT_EVOBS) may be divided into Files, up to maximumof 99 respectively.

3) VTSI, VTSM_EVOBS (if present), VTSTT_EVOBS and VTSI_BUP shall beallocated in this order.

4) VTSI and VTSI_BUP shall not be recorded in the same ECC block.

5) Files comprising VTSM_EVOBS shall be allocated contiguously. Alsofiles comprising VTSTT_EVOBS shall be allocated contiguously.

6) The contents of VTSI_BUP shall be exactly the same as VTSIcompletely. Therefore, when relative address information in VTSI_BUPrefers to outside of VTSI_BUP, the relative address shall be taken as arelative address of VTSI.

7) VTS numbers are the consecutive numbers assigned to VTS in theVolume. VTS numbers range from “1” to “511” and are assigned in theorder the VTS are stored on the disc (from the smallest L N at thebeginning of VTSI of each VTS).

8) In each VTS, a gap may exist in the boundaries among VTSI, VTSM_EVOBS(if present), VTSTT_EVOBS and VTSI_BUP.

9) In each VTSM_EVOBS (if present), each EVOB shall be allocated incontiguously.

10) In each VTSTT_EVOBS, each EVOB shall be allocated in contiguously.

11) VTSI and VTSI_BUP shall be recorded respectively in a logicallycontiguous area which is composed of consecutive LSNs.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The video title set VTS is a collection of a set of video titles. Thisvideo title set includes video title set information VTSI as controlinformation related with the video title set, an enhanced video objectset VTSM_EVOBS of a video title set menu, an enhanced video object set(video information itself) VTSTT_EVOBS of each title, and backup dataVTSI_BUP of the video title set information.

In this embodiment, the following rules shall apply to the video titleset VTS.

1) Each of the video title set information VTSI that records controlinformation, and the backup data VTSI_BUP of the video title setinformation shall be recorded in a single file of 1 GB or less.

2) The enhanced video object set VTSM_EVOBS of the video title set menuand the enhanced video object set (video information itself) VTSTT_EVOBSof each title shall be recorded while being divided into files, up tomaximum of 99 respectively, per information storage medium DISC, eachhaving a size of 1 GB or less.

3) The video title set information VTSI, the enhanced video object setVTSM_EVOBS of the video title set menu, the enhanced video object set(video information itself) VTSTT_EVOBS of each title, and the backupdata VTSI_BUP of the video title set information shall be allocated inthis order.

4) The video title set information VTSI and the backup data VTSI_BUP ofthe video title set information shall not be recorded in one ECC blocktogether. That is, the video title set information VTSI and the backupdata VTSI_BUP of the video title set information are recordedcontiguously, but the boundary position of them is inhibited from beingallocated at the center of a single ECC block. That is, when theboundary portion of these data is allocated in the single ECC block, ifthat ECC block cannot be played back due to any defect, both pieces ofinformation cannot be played back. Therefore, padding information isrecorded in the residual area in the ECC block at the end position ofthe video title set information VTSI to allocate the head of the nextbackup data VTSI_BUP of the video title set information at the headposition of the next ECC block, thus avoiding both the data from beingrecorded in the single ECC block. This point is a large technicalfeature in this embodiment. With this structure, not only thereliability of data playback can be greatly improved, but also theplayback processing upon data playback can be facilitated.

5) A plurality of files comprising the enhanced video object setVTSM_EVOBS of the video title set menu shall be recorded contiguously onthe information storage medium DISC. Also, a plurality of filescomprising the enhanced video object set (video information itself)VTSTT_EVOBS of each title shall be recorded contiguously. Since thefiles are allocated contiguously, respective pieces of information canbe played back at a time by a single continuous playback operation of anoptical head upon playback (the need for jumping processing of theoptical head is obviated). In this way, easy processing of various kindsof information upon data playback can be assured, and the time from whendata playback until presentation can be shortened.

6) The contents of the backup data VTSI_BUP of the video title setinformation shall be exactly the same as the video title set informationVTSI completely. Therefore, if the video title set information VTSI asmanagement information cannot be played back due to an error, videoinformation can be stably played back by playing back the backup dataVTSI_BUP of the video title set information.

7) The video title set VTS numbers are the consecutive numbers assignedto the video title sets VTS recorded in a volume space. The numbers ofrespective video title sets VTS ranges numbers 1 to 511 and are assignedin ascending order of logical block number LBN as the address inn thelogical space indicating the allocation position of the video title setVTS recorded on the information storage medium DISC.

8) In each video title set VTS, gap may exist in boundary areas betweenneighboring ones of the video title set information VTSI, the enhancedvideo object set VTSM_EVOBS of the video title set menu, the enhancedvideo object set (video information itself) VTSTT_EVOBS of each title inthe video title set VTS, and the backup data VTSI_BUP of the video titleset information. More specifically, the aforementioned four types ofinformation are allocated in different ECC blocks, thus assuring highreliability and easy playback processing of data upon playback, andspeeding up of processing. For this reason, this embodiment is designedas follows. That is, when the recording position of the last data ofeach information ends at the middle of one ECC block, paddinginformation is recorded in the residual area, so that the head positionof the next information matches that of the next ECC block. The part ofthe padding information in the ECC block will be referred to as a gap inthis embodiment.

9) In the enhanced video object set VTSM_EVOBS of each video title setmenu, enhanced video object EVOB shall be allocated in contiguously onthe information storage medium DISC. Thus, the convenience of playbackprocessing can be improved.

10) In the enhanced video object set (video information itself)VTSTT_EVOBS of each title in the video title set VTS, respectiveenhanced video objects shall be allocated in contiguously on theinformation storage medium DISC. In this manner, the convenience ofinformation playback can be assured, and the time required untilplayback can be shortened.

11) The video title set information VTSI and the backup data VTSI_BUP ofthe video title set information shall be recorded respectively in alogically contiguous areas defined by serial logical block numbers LSNwhich represent the address positions on the information storage mediumDISC. In this way, the information can be read by single continuousplayback (without any jumping processing), thus assuring the convenienceof playback processing and speeding up of processing.

<Structure of Video Manager (VMG)>

The VMG is the table of contents for Standard Video Title Sets whichexist in the “HD DVD-Video zone”. A VMG is composed of control datareferred to as Video Manager Information (VMGI), Enhanced Video Objectfor First Play PGC Menu (FP_PGCM_EVOB), Enhanced Video Object Set forVMG Menu (VMGM_EVOBS) and a backup of the control data (VMGI_BUP). Thecontrol data is static information necessary to playback titles andproviding information to support User Operation. The FP_PGCM_EVOB is anEnhanced Video Object (EVOB) used for the selection of menu language.The VMGM_EVOBS is a collection of Enhanced Video Objects (EVOBs) usedfor Menus that support the volume access.

The following rules shall apply to Video Manager (VMG):

1) Each of the control data (VMGI) and the backup of control data(VMGI_BUP) shall be a single File.

2) EVOB for FP PGC Menu (FP_PGCM_EVOB) shall be a single File. EVOBS forVMG Menu (VMGM_EVOBS) may be divided into Files, up to maximum of 98.

3) VMGI, FP PGCM_EVOB (if present), VMGM_EVOBS (if present) and VMGI_BUPshall be allocated in this order.

4) VMGI and VMGI_BUP shall not be recorded in the same ECC block.

5) Files comprising VMGM_EVOBS shall be allocated contiguously.

6) The contents of VMGI_BUP shall be exactly the same as VMGIcompletely. Therefore, when relative address information in VMGI_BUPrefers to outside of VMGI_BUP, the relative address shall be taken as arelative address of VMGI.

7) A gap may exist in the boundaries among VMGI, FP_PGCM EVOB (ifpresent), VMGM_EVOBS (if present) and VMGI_BUP.

8) In VMGM_EVOBS (if present), each EVOB shall be allocatedcontiguously.

9) VMGI and VMGI_BUP shall be recorded respectively in a logicallycontiguous area which is composed of consecutive LSNs.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The video manager VMG is the table of contents for the standard videotitle set SVTS, and is recorded in an HDDVD-Video zone to be describedlater. Constituent elements of the video manager VMG are controlinformation as video manager information VMGI, a menu FP_PGCM_EVOB whichis to be presented first immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC, an enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of a videomanager menu, and backup data VMGI_BUP of control information as thevideo manager information VMGI. The control information as the videomanager information VMGI records information required to play back eachtitle, and information used to support user's operations. The menuFP_PGCM_EVOB which is to be presented first immediately after insertionof the information storage medium DISC is used to select a languagepresented in the menu. That is, the user himself or herself selects anoptimal menu language immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC, thus presenting various menu frames using the bestunderstandable language. The enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBSrelated with the video manager menu is a collection of the enhancedvideo objects EVOBs used for in menus that support volume access. Thatis, information of a menu frame (a frame provided as independentinformation for each individual language) presented in the languageselected by the user is recorded as the enhanced video object set.

In this embodiment, the following rules shall apply to the video managerVMG.

1) Each of the video manager information VMGI and the backup fileVMGI_BUP of the video manager information shall be recorded in theinformation storage medium DISC to have each file size of 1 GB or less.

2) The enhanced video object EVOB of the menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which is tobe presented first immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC shall be divisionally recorded in the informationstorage medium DISC to have each file size of 1 GB or less. The enhancedvideo object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menu is divisionallyrecorded to have each file size of 1 GB or less, and the number of filesof the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menurecorded per information storage medium DISC is set to be 98 or fewer.Since the data size of one file is set to 1 GB or less, a buffer memorycan be easily managed, and data accessibility is improved.

3) The video manager information VMGI, the menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which is tobe presented first immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC, the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of thevideo manager menu, and the backup file VMGI_BUP of the video managerinformation shall be allocated in this order on the information storagemedium DISC.

4) The video manager information VMGI and the backup file VMGI_BUP ofthe video manager information shall not be recorded in a single ECCblock.

Since the video manager information VMGI, the menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which isto be presented first immediately after insertion of the informationstorage medium DISC, and the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of thevideo manager menu are optional, they are not often recorded on theinformation storage medium DISC. In such case, the video managerinformation VMGI and the backup file VMGI_BUP of the video managerinformation may be contiguously allocated in turn. This means that theboundary position of the video manager information VMGI and the backupfile VMGI_BUP of the video manager information is not allocated at thecenter of one ECC block. Basically, information is played back from theinformation storage medium for each ECC block. For this reason, if theboundary position of both pieces of information is recorded in thesingle ECC block, not only the convenience of data processing ofplayback information is impaired, but also if an error occurs in the ECCblock which stores the boundary portion to disable playback, both thevideo manager information VMGI and the backup file VMGI_BUP of the videomanager information cannot often be played back. Therefore, when theboundary portion of both the pieces of information is allocated at thatof ECC blocks, the superiority of processing upon playback is assured.Even when one of these ECC blocks includes many errors and cannot beplayed back, information can be restored and played back using theresidual data. Therefore, by setting the boundary of both the pieces ofinformation to that between neighboring ECC blocks, the data playbackreliability of the video manager information VMGI can be improved.

5) Files comprising the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of thevideo manager menu that represents menu information shall be allocatedcontiguously. As described above, the data size of the enhanced videoobject set VMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menu is allowed to exceed 1GB. In this embodiment, it is specified to divisionally record the dataof the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menu ina plurality of files to have each file size of 1 GB or less. The dividedfiles are required to be recorded contiguously on the informationstorage medium DISC. In this way, all enhanced video object sets of thevideo manager menu can be fetched by single continuous playback, thusassuring high reliability of playback control and speeding up ofpresentation processing for the user.

6) The contents of the backup file VMGI_BUP of the video managerinformation shall be exactly the same of the video manager informationVMGI completely.

7) A gap may exist in the boundary positions between neighboring ones ofvideo manager information VMGI, the menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which is to bepresented first immediately after insertion of the information storagemedium DISC, the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the videomanager menu, and the backup file VMGI_BUP of the video managerinformation. As described in 4), when information of each data isrecorded together for each ECC block, the position of the last data mayhave a difference from the boundary position of ECC blocks, and aresidual area may be formed in the ECC block. This residual area iscalled a gap. Since existence of the gap areas is allowed in this way,each information can be recorded for respective ECC blocks. As a result,the convenience upon playback and the reliability upon data playback canbe assured, as described above.

8) Each enhanced video object EVOB in the enhanced video object setVMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menu shall be allocated contiguously. Asdescribed above, the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the videomanager menu can have a size which exceeds 1 GB, and can be divisionallyrecorded in files of 1 GB or less. This means that the divided files arerecorded contiguously on the information storage medium DISC. As aresult, the enhanced video object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video managermenu can be read together by a single playback operation, thus assuringthe convenience of the playback processing and shortening the timerequired for presentation for the user.

9) When the menu FP_PGCM_EVOB which is to be presented first immediatelyafter insertion of the information storage medium DISC and the enhancedvideo object set VMGM_EVOBS of the video manager menu do not exist, thevideo manager information VMGI and the backup file VMGI_BUP of the videomanager information shall be recorded respectively in continuous areasdefined by continuous logical sector numbers. In this manner, theplayback convenience of the video manager information VMGI and thebackup file VMGI_BUP of the video manager information can be improved.

<Structure of Enhanced Video Object Set (EVOS) in Standard Content>

The EVOBS is a collection of Enhanced Video Object which is composed ofdata on Video, Audio, Sub-picture and the like.

The following rules shall apply to EVOBS:

1) In an EVOBS, EVOBs are to be recorded in Contiguous Block andInterleaved Block.

2) An EVOBS is composed of one or more EVOBs. EVOB_ID numbers areassigned from the EVOB with the smallest LSN in EVOBS, in ascendingorder starting with one (1).

3) An EVOB is composed of one or more Cells. C_ID numbers are assignedfrom the Cell with the smallest LSN in an EVOB, in ascending orderstarting with one (1).

4) Cells in EVOBS may be identified by the EVOB_ID number and the C_IDnumber.

5) An EVOB shall be allocated in ascending order in logical sectornumber contiguously (without any gaps).

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The enhanced video object set EVOBS is a collection of the enhancedvideo object EVOB, which is composed of data on video, audio,sub-picture, and the like. In this embodiment, the following rules shallapply to the enhanced video object set EVOBS.

1) In the enhanced video object set EVOBS, enhanced video objects EVOBsare to be recorded in contiguous blocks and interleaved blocks.

2) An enhanced video object set EVOBS is composed of one or moreenhanced video objects EVOBs.

3) ID numbers EVOB_ID assigned to respective enhanced video object EVOBare assigned in ascending order of logical sector number LSN, whichindicates the recording address of enhanced video object EVOB on theinformation storage medium DISC. The first number is “1”, and isincremented in turn.

One enhanced video object EVOB is composed of one or more cells. As IDnumbers C_ID set for respective cells, numerals which are incremented inturn to have a minimum value “1” in ascending order of logical sectornumber LSN which indicates the recording location of each cell on theinformation storage medium DISC are set.

4) Respective cells in the enhanced video object set EVOBS may beindividually identified by the ID number EVOB_ID assigned to theenhanced video object EVOB and the ID numbers C_ID set for respectivecells.

<Category of Information Storage Medium>

In this embodiment, for example, as video information and its managementinformation to be recorded on the information storage medium DISC, twodifferent types of contents, i.e., the advanced content ADVCT andstandard content STDCT are set. By providing the advanced content ADVCT,the requirements of the user who wants to assure flexible anddiversified expressions, easy processing of video related information ofnetwork actions, and easy transmission of information after processing,can be satisfied. By providing the standard content STDCT at the sametime, the data compatibility to the conventional DVD-Video can beassured, and even an inexpensive information playback apparatus withoutany precondition of network connection can play back video informationof this embodiment. This point is a large technical feature in thisembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, information storage media DISC corresponding tothree different categories are defined as the information storage mediaDISC that record respective contents. That is, as shown in (a) of FIG.8, a medium which records only information of the standard content STDCTas data to be recorded in the information storage medium DISC compliantto category 1 is defined. The information storage medium DISC compliantto category 1 can be played back by both an inexpensive informationplayback apparatus without any precondition of network connection and anadvanced information playback apparatus premised on network connection.

An information storage medium DISC which records only advanced contentADVCT as data recorded in an information storage medium compliant tocategory 2 is defined, as shown in (b) of FIG. 8. The informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 2 can be played back by onlyan advanced information playback apparatus premised on networkconnection. Furthermore, as shown in (c) of FIG. 8, an informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 3 that records identical videoinformation in both the formats of the advanced content ADVCT andstandard content STDCT is defined. This point is a large technicalfeature of this embodiment. Using the information storage medium DISCcompliant to category 3, an advanced information playback apparatushaving a network connection function can play back the advanced contentADVCT, and an inexpensive information playback apparatus without anyprecondition of network connection can play back the standard contentSTDCT. Hence, the contents optimal to every models can be presented(provided) to the user.

<Category 1 Disc>

This disc contains only Standard Content which consists of one VMG andone or more Standard VTSs. This disc contains no Advanced Content suchas a Playlist, Advanced VTS and so on. As for an example of structure,see (a) of FIG. 8.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The information storage medium DISC compliant to category 1 shown in (a)of FIG. 8 records the standard content STDCT which consists of one videomanager VMG which forms a menu frame, and one or more standard videotitle sets SVTS that manage video information. No information of theadvanced content ADVCT is recorded on this information storage mediumDISC.

<Category 2 Disc>

This disc contains only Advanced Content which consists of Playlist,Primary Video Set (only Advanced VTS), Secondary Video Set and AdvancedSubtitle. This disc contains no Standard Content such as VMG or StandardVTS. As for an example of structure, see (b) of FIG. 8.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The information storage medium DISC compliant to category 2 shown in (b)of FIG. 8 records only the advanced content ADVCT, and does not recordany standard content STDCT.

<Category 3 Disc>

This disc contains both Advanced Content which consists of Playlist,Advanced VTS in Primary Video Set, Secondary Video Set, AdvancedApplication and Advanced Subtitle and Standard Content which consists ofone or more Standard VTSs in Primary Video Set. That is, neither FP_DOMnor VMGM_DOM should exist in this Primary Video Set. Even though FP_DOMand VMGM_DOM may exist on a disc, some navigation command to transit toFP_DOM or VMGM_DOM shall be ignored by a player. As for an example ofstructure, see (c) of FIG. 8. Even though this disc contains StandardContent, basically this disc follows rules for the Category 2 disc.Standard Content may be referred by Advanced Content with cancellationsof some functions. In addition, for playback of this disc, there arekinds of state such as Advanced Content Playback State and StandardContent Playback State, and the transition between the states isallowed.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The information storage medium DISC compliant to category 3 shown in (c)of FIG. 8 records the advanced content ADVCT and standard content STDCT.In the information storage medium DISC compliant to category 3, aprimary video set PRMVS (to be described later) is defined. In theprimary video set PRMVS, neither a first play domain FP_DOMcorresponding to a frame to be presented immediately after insertion ofthe information storage medium DISC nor a video manager menu domainVMGM_DOM that presents a menu is defined in the primary video set PRMVS.However, the first play domain FP_DOM and video manager menu domainVMGM_DOM may exist in an area other than the primary video set PRMVS inthe information storage medium DISC compliant to category 3.Furthermore, an information playback apparatus shall ignore a navigationcommand to transit to the first play domain FP_DOM or the video managerdomain VMGM_DOM. The first play domain FP_DOM corresponding to a frameto be presented immediately after insertion of the information storagemedium DISC and the video manager domain VMGM_DOM are basically requiredin a menu operation in the standard content STDCT. However, in thisembodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 or 10, menu processing is executed in theadvanced content ADVCT to refer to the standard video title set SVTSwhich records video information in the standard content STDCT as needed.In this way, by inhibiting jump to the first play domain FP_DOM of amenu presented immediately after insertion of the information storagemedium DISC and the video manager domain VMGM_DOM, the menu processingon the advanced content ADVCT can always be assured, thus avoidingconfusion to the user. Even though the information storage medium DISCcompliant to category 3 contains the standard content STDCT, basicallythis information storage medium DISC follows rules for the informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 2 shown in (b) of FIG. 8.

<Primary Video Set>

Primary Video Set in Advanced Content consists of Advanced VTS space,Standard VTS space and VMG. Basically Advanced VTS is used only inAdvanced Content, and Standard VTS may be used in Advanced Content eventhough this VTS is mainly used for Standard Content. In AdvancedContent, VMG may exist in Primary Video Set, however the transition toVMGM_DOM or FP_DOM is not allowed. The data for Primary Video Set islocated on a disc under HVDVD_TS directory.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The contents of the primary video set PRMVS shown in (c) of FIG. 8 willbe described below. The primary video set PRMVS in the advanced contentADVCT includes an advanced video title set ADVTS, a standard video titleset SVTS, and a video manager VMG. These video title sets are mainlyused in the standard content STDCT. However, the advanced video titleset ADVTS is used only in the advanced content ADVCT, and the standardvideo title set SVTS may be used in the advanced content ADVCT. In theadvanced content ADVCT, the video manager VMG in the primary video setPRMVS may exist. However, during use of the advanced content ADVCT, thetransition to the aforementioned video manager menu domain VMGM_DOM andfirst play domain FP_DOM is inhibited. The first play domain FP_DOMcorresponding to a frame to be presented immediately after insertion ofthe information storage medium DISC and the video manager domainVMGM_DOM are basically required in a menu operation in the standardcontent STDCT. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 or 10,the menu processing is executed in the advanced content ADVCT to referto the standard video title set SVTS which records video information inthe standard content STDCT as needed. In this way, by inhibiting thetransition to the first play domain FP_DOM of a menu presentedimmediately after insertion of the information storage medium DISC andthe video manager domain VMGM_DOM, the menu processing on the advancedcontent ADVCT can always be assured, thus effectively avoiding confusionto the user. The primary video set PRMVS are recorded in the informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 3. The primary video set PRMVSis allocated in the HDDVD_TS directory described above as the datastructure to be recorded. However, the embodiment of the invention isnot limited to this, and the primary video set PRMVS may be recorded inthe persistent storage.

At least the primary video set PRMVS and at least one playlist PLLST(details will be described later) shall be recorded in the informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 2 or 3. Other pieces ofinformation related with the advanced content ADVCT described in FIGS.8B and 8C shall be located in on information storage medium DISC but canbe delivered from a server via the network.

<Structure of Volume Space>

The Volume Space of an HD DVD-Video disc consists of

1) The Volume and File structure, which shall be assigned for the UDFstructure.

2) Single “HD DVD-Video zone”, which shall be assigned for the datastructure of HD DVD-Video format. This zone consists of “StandardContent zone and Advanced Content zone”.

3) “DVD others zone”, which may be used for other than HD DVD-Videoapplications.

The following rules apply for HD DVD-Video zone.

1) “HD DVD-Video zone” shall consist of a “Standard Content zone” inCategory 1 disc.

“HD DVD-Video zone” shall consist of an “Advanced Content zone” inCategory 2 disc.

“HD DVD-Video zone” shall consist of both a “Standard Content zone” andan “Advanced Content zone” in Category 3 disc.

2) “Standard Content zone” shall consist of single Video Manager (VMG)and at least 1 with maximum 511 Video Title Set (VTS) in Category 1 discand Category 3 disc. “Standard Content zone” should not exist inCategory 2 disc.

3) VMG shall be allocated at the leading part of “HD DVD-Video zone” ifit exists, that is Category 1 disc case.

4) VMG shall be composed of at least 2 with maximum 102 files.

5) Each VTS (except Advanced VTS) shall be composed of at least 3 withmaximum 200 files.

6) “Advanced Content zone” shall consist of files supported in AdvancedContent with an Advanced VTS. The maximum number of files for AdvancedContent zone under ADV_OBJ directory is 512×2047.

7) Advanced VTS shall be composed of at least 3 with maximum 5995 files.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The recording locations of the advanced content ADVCT and standardcontent STDCT recorded in the information storage medium DISC will bedescribed below using (c) of FIG. 8. In the following description, amedium in which the recording location of only the advanced contentADVCT is set corresponds to the information storage medium DISC shown in(b) of FIG. 8, and a medium in which the recording location of only thestandard content STDCT corresponds to the information storage mediumDISC of category 1 shown in (a) of FIG. 8. A space that records eachcontent on the information storage medium DISC, as shown in (c) of FIG.8, is defined as a volume space, and logical sector numbers LSN areassigned to all locations in the volume space. In this embodiment, thevolume space is formed of the following three zones.

1) Zone that Describes the Volume and File Structure (File SystemManagement Information Recording Area)

This zone is defined as an area that records management information of afile system, although it is not described in (c) of FIG. 8. In thisembodiment, a file system compliant to uniform disc format (UDF) isbuilt. The above zone indicates a zone which records managementinformation of that file system.

2) Single HD_DVD-Video Zone

This zone records data in this embodiment described in (c) of FIG. 8.This zone consists of a zone that records the advanced content ADVCT,and a zone that records the standard content STDCT.

Other DVD related information recording zone.

3) DVD Others Zone

This zone records DVD related information other than information used inthe HD_DVD-Video of this embodiment. This zone can record informationrelated with the HD_DVD-Video recording standards and informationrelated with the existing DVD-Video and DVD-Audio standards.

In this embodiment, the following rules apply for the HD_DVD-Video zonedescribed in 2) above and (c) of FIG. 8.

1) The information storage media compliant to categories 1 and 3 canrecord information of one video manager VMG and 1 to 511 video titlesets VTS in the recording area of the standard content STDCT. Theinformation storage medium DISC compliant to category 2 cannot set therecording area of the standard content STDCT.

2) In the information storage medium DISC compliant to category 1, thevideo manager VMG shall be recorded at the first location in theHD_DVD-Video recording area.

3) The video manager VMG shall be composed of 2 with maximum 102 files.

4) Each video title set VTS except the advanced video title sets ADVTSshall be composed of at least 3 with maximum 200 files.

5) The recording area of the advanced content ADVCT shall consists offiles supported in the advanced content ADVCT with an advanced videotitle set ADVTS. The maximum number of files for advanced content ADVCTto be recorded in the recording area is 512×2047.

6) The advanced video title set ADVTS shall be composed of 3 with 5995files.

<Transition Upon Playback>

The transitions upon playback of the advanced content ADVCT and uponplayback of the standard content STDCT will be explained below usingFIG. 10. The information storage medium DISC compliant to category 3shown in (c) of FIG. 8 has a structure that can independently play backthe advanced content ADVCT and standard content STDCT. When theinformation storage medium DISC compliant to category 3 is inserted intoan advanced information playback apparatus having an Internet connectionfunction, the playback apparatus reads advanced navigation data ADVNVincluded in the advanced content ADVCT in an initial state INSTT. Afterthat, the playback apparatus transits to an advanced content playbackstate ADVPS. The same processing applies when the information storagemedium DISC compliant to category 2 shown in (b) of FIG. 8 is inserted.In the advanced content playback state ADVPS shown in FIG. 10, aplayback situation can transit to a standard content playback stateSTDPS by executing a command MSCMD corresponding to a markup file MRKUPor script file SCRPT. In the standard content playback state STDPS, theplayback situation can return to the advanced content playback stateADVPS by executing a command NCCMD of navigation commands set in thestandard content STDCT.

In the standard content STDCT, system parameters which recordinformation, e.g., the presentation angle numbers, playback audionumbers, and the like that are set by the system as in the existingDVD-Video standards are defined. In this embodiment, the advancedcontent ADVCT can play back data to be set in the system parameter orcan change the system parameter values in the advanced content playbackstate ADVPS. In this manner, compatibility to the existing DVD-Videoplayback can be assured. Independently of the transition directionbetween the advanced content playback state ADVPS and the standardcontent playback state STDPS, the consistency of the setting values ofthe system parameters can be maintained in this embodiment.

When an arbitrary transition is made according to user's favor betweenthe advanced content ADVCT and standard content STDCT in the informationstorage medium DISC compliant to category 3 shown in (c) of FIG. 8,since the system parameter values have consistency, as described above,for example, the same presentation language is used before and aftertransition, and the user's convenience upon playback can be assured.

<Medium Identification Processing Method>

FIG. 11 shows a medium identification processing method by theinformation playback apparatus of this embodiment when three differenttypes of information storage media DISC shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8Care mounted.

When the information storage medium DISC is mounted on a high-endinformation playback apparatus having a network connection function, theinformation playback apparatus determines if the information storagemedium DISC is compliant to HD_DVD (step S11). In case of theinformation storage medium DISC compliant to HD_DVD, the informationplayback apparatus goes to find a playlist file PLLST recorded in anadvanced content directory ADVCT located directly under the rootdirectory shown in FIG. 15 and determines if the information storagemedium DISC is compliant to category 2 or 3 (step S12). If the playlistfile PLLST is found, the information playback apparatus determines thatthe information storage medium DISC is compliant to category 2 or 3, andplays back the advanced content ADVCT (step S13). If the playlist filePLLST is not found, the information playback apparatus checks the videomanager ID number VMGM_ID recorded in the video manager information VMGIin the standard content STDCT and determines if the information storagemedium DISC is compliant to category 1 (step S14). In case of theinformation storage medium DISC compliant to category 1, the videomanager ID number VMGM_ID is recorded as specific data, and it can beidentified based on the information in a video manager category VMG_CATthat the standard content STDCT compliant to category 1 alone isrecorded. In this case, the standard content STDCT is played back (stepS15). If the mounted information storage medium DISC belongs to none ofcategories described in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, a processing methoddepending on the information playback apparatus is adopted (step S16).

<Playback of Only Audio>

This embodiment supports a playback apparatus which does not have anyvideo display function and plays back only audio information. FIG. 12shows the startup sequence in an audio-only information playbackapparatus.

When the information storage medium DISC is mounted on the informationplayback apparatus, the information playback apparatus determines if theinformation storage medium DISC is compliant to HD_DVD (step S21). Ifthe information storage medium DISC is not compliant to HD_DVD in thisembodiment, a processing method depending on the information playbackapparatus is adopted (step S24). Also, if the information playbackapparatus is not the one which plays back only audio information, aprocessing method depending on the information playback apparatus isadopted (steps S22 and S24). If the mounted information storage mediumDISC is compliant to HD_DVD of this embodiment, the information playbackapparatus checks the presence/absence of a playlist file PLLST recordedin the advanced content directory ADVCT located directly under the rootdirectory. If the playlist file PLLST is found, the information playbackapparatus which plays back only audio information plays back audioinformation (steps S22 and S23). At this time, the information playbackapparatus plays back information via the playlist file PLLST.

<Data Access Method>

Different management methods (different data access methods to contentsand the like) for the enhanced video object EVOB in the standard contentSTDCT and those in the advanced content ADVCT in this embodiment will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 9.

On standard video title set information STVTSI as management informationin the standard content STDCT in this embodiment, access to eachenhanced video object EVOB is designated by a logical sector number LSNas address information on the logical space. In this way, since accessis managed using the address information, compatibility to the existingDVD-Video standards can be assured. By contrast, access to each enhancedvideo object EVOB in the advanced content ADVCT is managed not byaddress information but by time information. This point is a largetechnical feature in this embodiment. With this feature, not onlycompatibility to the video recording standards that allow existing videorecording and playback can be assured, but also easy edit processing isguaranteed. More specifically, in a playlist PLLST which representsplayback management information on the advanced content ADVCT, theplayback range of advanced video object data at a playback position isset by time information. In the advanced content ADVCT of thisembodiment, time information designated in the playlist PLLST can beconverted into address information by time map information TMAPI. Thetime map information TMAPI is used to convert the designated timeinformation into a logical sector number LSN indicating a logicaladdress position on the information storage medium DISC. The time mapinformation TMAPI is recorded at a position different from the playlistPLLST. Furthermore, advanced video title set information ADVTSI in theadvanced content ADVCT corresponds to the standard video title setinformation STVTSI in the standard content STDCT. This advanced videotitle set information ADVTSI records enhanced video object informationEVOBI which records individual attribute information of respectiveenhanced video object EVOB. This enhanced video object information EVOBIrefers to and manages each individual enhanced video object EVOB asmanagement information of attribute information. When this enhancedvideo object information EVOBI#3 manages and refers to attributes of theenhanced video object EVOB in the standard content STDCT, the playlistPLLST that manages playback of the advanced content ADVCT can designateplayback of enhanced video object EVOB in the standard content STDCT.

<Utilization of Standard Content By Advanced Content>

Standard Content can be utilized by Advanced Content. VTSI of AdvancedVTS can refer EVOBs which is also be referred by VTSI of Standard VTS,by use of TMAP (see FIG. 9). In this case, a TMAP Information refers oneor more EVOBUs in an EVOB. However, the EVOB may contain HLI, PCI and soon, which are not supported in Advanced Content. In the playback of suchEVOBs, some information which is not supported in Advanced Content suchas HLI and PCI shall be ignored in Advanced Content.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

As described above, the advanced content ADVCT can utilize some data inthe standard content STDCT. This point is a large technical feature inthis embodiment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the enhanced video object informationEVOBI#3 in the advanced video title set information ADVTSI can refer toand play back enhanced video object EVOB#3 in the standard content STDCTby utilizing time map information TMAPI#3 in the advanced content ADVCT.Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the enhanced video object EVOB#3 referred toby the enhanced video object information EVOBI#3 in the advanced contentcan also be referred to by the standard video title set informationSTVTSI. As described above, in this embodiment, since the enhanced videoobject EVOB#3 in the standard content STDCT can be referred to by aplurality of pieces of information, it can be commonly utilized, and theefficiency of data to be recorded on the information storage medium DISCcan be improved.

This enhanced video object EVOB#3 includes information such as highlightinformation HLI, presentation control information PCI, and the like.However, the advanced content ADVCT does not support these pieces ofinformation, and information specified by these highlight informationHLI and presentation control information PCI is ignored upon playback ofthe advanced content ADVCT based on the playlist PLLST.

<Advanced VTS>

Advanced VTS is utilized Video Title Set for Advanced Content. Incomparison to Standard VTS, followings are additionally defined.

1) More Enhancement for an EVOB

1 Main Video stream

8 Main Audio streams (Maximum)

1 Sub Video stream

8 Sub Audio streams (Maximum)

32 Sub-picture streams (Maximum)

1 Advanced stream

2) Integration of Enhanced VOB Set (EVOBS)

Integration of both Menu EVOBS and Title EVOBS

3) Elimination of a Layered Structure

No Tide, no PGC, no PTT and no Cell

No supports of Navigation Command and UOP control

4) Introduction of New Time Map Information (TMAPI)

In case of Contiguous Block, one TMAPI corresponds to one EVOB and itshall be stored as a file.

In case of Interleaved Block, the TMAPIs which correspond to EVOBs inthe Block shall be stored as a file.

Some information in a NV_PCK are simplified.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced video title set ADVTS shown in (c) of FIG. 8 will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 9. The advanced video title setADVTS is utilized as a video title set for the advanced content ADVCT.Differences between the advanced video title set ADVTS shown in (c) ofFIG. 8 and the standard video title set SVTS will be listed below.

1) More Enhancement for the Enhanced Video Object EVOB in AdvancedContent ADVCT

The advanced video title set ADVTS can have one main video stream MANVD,eight (maximum) or fewer main audio streams MANAD, one sub video streamSUBVD, eight (maximum) or less sub audio streams SUBAD, 32 (maximum) orfewer sub-picture streams SUBPT, and one advanced stream (stream datathat records an advanced application ADAPL to be described later).

2) Integration of Enhanced Video Object Set EVOBS

In the standard content STDCT, as shown in FIG. 5, enhanced video objectEVOB in the video manager VMG that represents a menu frame is completelyseparated from enhanced video object EVOB in the standard video titleset SVTS which represents video information to be played back, and amoving image and menu frame cannot be simultaneously presented. Bycontrast, the advanced video title set ADVTS in this embodiment canmanage and present a menu frame and a picture frame that represents amoving image by integrating them.

3) Elimination of a Layered Structure of Management Information forVideo Information

The existing DVD-Video and standard content STDCT adopts a layeredstructure of program chains PGC/parts of title PTT/cells as a videomanagement unit. However, the management method of the advanced contentADVCT in this embodiment does not adopt such layered structure. Also,the standard content STDCT of the existing DVD-Video uses navigationcommands to execute special processing such as transition processing andthe like and performs user operation processing. However, the advancedcontent ADVCT of this embodiment does not perform these processes.

4) Introduction of New Time Map Information TMAPI

In a contiguous block to be described later, one time map informationTMAPI corresponds to one enhanced video object EVOB, and respectivepieces of time map information TMAPI are recorded as one file on theinformation storage medium DISC. In case of an interleaved block, aplurality of enhanced video object EVOB corresponding to each stream inthat interleaved block are included. Time map information TMAPI is setfor each individual enhanced video object EVOB, and a plurality ofpieces of time map information TMAPI are recorded in one file for eachinterleaved block. Furthermore, information in a navigation pack NV_PCKdefined in the conventional DVD-Video and standard content STDCT isrecorded after it is simplified.

<Structure of Advanced Video Title Set (Advanced VTS)>

This VTS consists of only one Title. This VTS is composed of controldata referred to as Video Title Set Information (VTSI), Enhanced VideoObject Set for Titles in a VTS (VTSTT_EVOBS), Video Title Set Time MapInformation (VTSI_TMAP), backup control data (VTSI_BUP) and backup ofVideo Title Set Time Map Information (VTS_TMAP_BUP).

The following rules shall apply to Video Title Set (VTS):

1) The control data (VTSI) and the backup of control data (VTSI_BUP) (ifexists: this data is recorded optionally) shall be a single File.

2) VTSI and VTSI_BUP (if exists) shall not be recorded in the same ECCblock.

3) Each of a Video Title Set Time Map Information (VTS_TMAP) and thebackup of this (VTS TMAP_BUP) (if exists: this data is recordedoptionally) shall be composed of files, up to a maximum of 999respectively.

4) VTS_TMAP and VTS_TMAP_BUP (if exists) shall not be recorded in thesame ECC block.

5) Files comprising VTS_TMAP shall be allocated continuously.

6) Files comprising VTS_TMAP_BUP (if exists) shall be allocatedcontinuously.

7) An EVOB which belongs to Contiguous Block shall be a single File.

8) EVOBs which consist of an Interleaved Block shall be included in asingle File.

9) An EVOBS of a VTS (VTSTT_EVOBS) shall be composed of files, up to amaximum of 999.

10) Files comprising VTSTT_EVOBS shall be allocated continuously.

11) The contents of VTSI_BUP (if exists) shall be exactly the same asVTSI completely. Therefore, when relative address information inVTSI_BUP refers to outside of VTSI BUP, the relative address shall betaken as a relative address of VTSI.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The data structure in the advanced video title set ADVTS in the advancedcontent ADVCT shown in FIG. 9 will be described below.

In this embodiment, one advanced video title set ADVTS is composed ofonly one title that represents video information itself. In thisembodiment, the advanced video title set ADVTS is composed of advancedvideo title set information ADVTSI which records control information, anenhanced video object set VTSTT_EVOBS which stores a video titlerepresenting the video information itself, video title set time mapinformation VTS_TMAP which records time map information TMAPI shown inFIG. 9, backup information ADVTSI_BUP of the advanced video title setinformation ADVTSI, and backup information VTS_TMAP_BUP of the time mapinformation. These pieces of information shall be recorded contiguouslyin this order on the information storage medium DISC. The followingrules shall apply to the advanced video title set ADVTS in thisembodiment.

1) The advanced video title set information ADVTSI as controlinformation and its backup information ADVTSI_BUP shall be recorded as asingle file on the information storage medium DISC.

2) The advanced video title set information ADVTSI and its backupinformation ADVTSI_BUP shall not be stored in one ECC block together.When the advanced video title set information ADVTSI and its backupinformation ADVTSI_BUP are recorded contiguously, if the lastinformation in the advanced video title set information ADVTSI islocated in the middle of one ECC block, padding information should berecorded in the residual area in that ECC block so that the next backupinformation ADVTSI_BUP is allocated in a different ECC block. In thismanner, even when an ECC block at the boundary between the advancedvideo title set information ADVTSI and the next backup informationADVTSI_BUP cannot be read due to an error, one of these two pieces ofinformation can be played back, thus improving the reliability uponplayback.

3) Each of the video title set time map information VTS_TMAP and itsbackup information VTS_TMAP_BUP shall be recorded in 1 to 999 (maximum)or fewer files.

4) Each of the video title set time map information VTS_TMAP and itsbackup information VTS_TMAP_BUP shall not be recorded in one ECC blocktogether. That is, as in 2), when the boundary between these two piecesof information is to be allocated in one ECC block, i.e., when the lastpart of the video title set time map information VTS_TMAP is allocatedin the middle of one ECC block, padding data is recorded to allocate thenext backup information VTS_TMAP_BUP to be recorded from the headposition of the next ECC block. In this manner, the reliability uponplayback can be assured.

5) A plurality of files comprising the video title set time mapinformation VTS_TMAP shall be recorded continuously on the informationstorage medium DISC. In this way, the need for unwanted transitionprocessing of an optical head can be obviated, and the video title settime map information VTS_TMAP can be played back by single continuousplayback, thus attaining easy playback processing and speeding up.

6) A plurality of files comprising the backup information VTS_TMAP BUPof each video title set time map information VTS_TMAP shall be recordedcontinuously on the information storage medium DISC. In this way, as in5), easy playback processing and speeding up can be attained.

7) An enhanced video object set VTSTT_EVOBS that record titles of theadvanced video title set shall be recorded on the information storagemedium DISC as 1 to 999 (maximum) or fewer files.

8) A plurality of files which record the enhanced video object setsVTSTT_EVOBS that record titles of the advanced video title set shall berecorded continuously on the information storage medium DISC. In thismanner, the enhanced video object sets VTSTT_EVOBS that record titles ofthe advanced video title set can be played back by single continuousplayback, thus assuring continuity upon playback.

9) The contents of the backup information ADVTSI_BUP of the advancedvideo title set information ADVTSI shall be the same as the advancedvideo title set information ADVTSI completely.

<Structure of Enhanced Video Object Set (EVOBS) in Advanced VTS>

The EVOBS is a collection of Enhanced Video Object which is composed ofdata on Video, Audio, Sub-picture and the like.

The following rules shall apply to EVOBS:

1) In an EVOBS, EVOBs are to be recorded in Contiguous Block andInterleaved Block.

2) An EVOBS is composed of one or more EVOBs. EVOB_ID numbers areassigned from the EVOB with the smallest LSN in EVOBS, in ascendingorder starting with one (1). EVOB_ID number is also corresponding to thesame number of EVOBI in VTSI.

3) Each EVOB has one corresponded TMAP file if the EVOB belongs toContiguous Block. EVOBs which compose Interleaved Block have onecorresponded TMAP file.

4) An EVOB shall be allocated in ascending order in logical sectornumber contiguously (without any gaps).

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The data structure of the enhanced video object EVOB in the advancedcontent ADVCT shown in FIG. 9 will be described below. In thisembodiment, a collection of enhanced objects EVOBs is called an enhancedvideo object set EVOBS, and is composed of data of video, audio,sub-picture, and the like. In this embodiment, the following rules shallapply to the enhanced video object set EVOBS in the advanced contentADVCT.

1) Enhanced video objects EVOBs are recorded in a contiguous block andinterleaved block (to be described later).

2) One enhanced video object set EVOBS includes one or more enhancedvideo object EVOB. The aforementioned ID numbers EVOB_ID of the enhancedvideo object are assigned in the layout order of enhanced video objectEVOB recorded on the information storage medium DISC. That is, the IDnumbers EVOB_ID are assigned in ascending order of logical sector numberLSN which indicates the recording address of enhanced video object EVOBon the logical space, and the first number is set to 1. The ID numberEVOB_ID of the enhanced video object is corresponding to the same numberof the enhanced video object information EVOBI described in the advancedtitle set information ADVTSI. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, enhancedvideo object EVOB#1 has an ID number EVOB_ID=“1”, and enhanced videoobject EVOB#2 has an ID number EVOB_ID=“2”. Enhanced video objectinformation EVOBI#1 which controls that data is set to have anumber=“1”, and enhanced video object information EVOBI#2 that managesthe enhanced video object EVOB#2 is set to have a number=“2”.

3) Each enhanced video object EVOB has one corresponded time map file ifthe enhanced video object EVOB belongs to the contiguous block. That is,as shown in FIG. 9, time map information TMAPI#1 exists as a part formanaging the time of enhanced video object EVOB#1, and this time mapinformation TMAPI#1 is recorded on the information storage medium DISCas one time map file. When a plurality of enhanced video objects EVOBscompose an interleaved block, one time map file is recorded on theinformation storage medium DISC in correspondence with one interleavedblock.

<Relation Among Presentation Objects>

FIG. 7 shows the relation among Data Type, Data Source andPlayer/Decoder for each presentation object defined above.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced content ADVCT in this embodiment uses objects shown in FIG.7. The correspondence among the data types, data sources, andplayers/decoders, and player for each presentation object is shown inFIG. 7. Initially, “via network” and “persistent storage PRSTR” as thedata sources will be described below.

<Network Server>

Network Server is an optional data source for Advanced Content playback,but a player should have network access capability. Network Server isusually operated by the content provider of the current disc. NetworkServer usually locates in the internet.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

“Via network” related with the data sources shown in FIG. 7 will beexplained.

This embodiment is premised on playback of object data delivered fromthe network server NTSRV via the network as the data source of objectsused to play back the advanced content ADVCT. Therefore, a player withadvanced functions in this embodiment is premised on network access. Asthe network server NTSRV which represents the data source of objectsupon transferring data via the network, a server to be accessed isdesignated in the advanced content ADVCT on the information storagemedium DISC upon playback, and that server is operated by the contentprovider who created the advanced content ADVCT. The network serverNTSRV is usually located in the Internet.

<Data Categories on Network Server>

Any Advanced Content files can exist on Network Server. AdvancedNavigation can download any files on Dada Sources to the File Cache orPersistent Storage by using proper API(s). For S-EVOB data read fromNetwork Server, Secondary Video Player can use Streaming Buffer.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

Files which record the advanced content ADVCT in this embodiment can berecoded in the network server NTSRV in advance. An applicationprocessing command API which is set in advance downloads advancednavigation data ADVNV onto a file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) or thepersistent storage PRSTR. In this embodiment, a primary video set playercannot directly play back a primary video set PRMVS from the networkserver NTSRV. The primary video set PRMVS is temporarily recorded on thepersistent storage PRSTR, and data are played back via the persistentstorage PRSTR (to be described later). A secondary video player SCDVPcan directly play back secondary enhanced video object S-EVOB from thenetwork server NTSRV using a streaming buffer. The persistent storagePRSTR shown in FIG. 7 will be described below.

<Persistent Storage/Data Categories on Persistent Storage>

There are two categories of Persistent Storage. One is called as“Required Persistent Storage”. This is a mandatory Persistent Storagedevice attached in a player. FLASH memory is typical device for this.The minimum capacity for Fixed Persistent Storage is 128 MB. Others areoptional and called as “Additional Persistent Storage”. They may beremovable storage devices, such as USB Memory/HDD or Memory Card. NAS(Network Attached Storage) is also one of possible Additional PersistentStorage device. Actual device implementation is not specified in thisspecification. They should pursuant API model for Persistent Storage.

Any Advanced Content files can exist on Persistent Storage. AdvancedNavigation can copy any files on Data Sources to Persistent Storage orFile Cache by using proper API(s). Secondary Video Player can readSecondary Video Set from Persistent Storage.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

This embodiment defines two different types of persistent storagesPRSTRs. The first type is called a required persistent storage (or afixed persistent storage as a mandatory persistent storage) PRSTR. Theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1 (player) in thisembodiment has the persistent storage PRSTR as a mandatory component. Asa practical recording medium which is most popularly used as the fixedpersistent storage PRSTR, this embodiment assumes a flash memory. Thisembodiment is premised on that the fixed persistent storage PRSTR has acapacity of 64 MB or more. When the minimum required memory size of thepersistent storage PRSTR is set, as described above, the playbackstability of the advanced content ADVCT can be guaranteed independentlyof the detailed arrangement of the information recording and playbackapparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH)is designated as the data source. The file cache FLCCH (data cacheDTCCH) represents a cache memory having a relatively small capacity suchas a DRAM, SRAM, or the like. The fixed persistent storage PRSTR in thisembodiment incorporates a flash memory, and that memory itself is setnot to be detached from the information playback apparatus. However,this embodiment is not limited to such specific memory, and for example,a portable flash memory may be used in addition to the fixed persistentstorage PRSTR.

The other type of the persistent storage PRSTR in this embodiment iscalled an additional persistent storage PRSTR. The additional persistentstorage PRSTR may be a removable storage device, and can be implementedby, e.g., a USB memory, portable HDD, memory card, or the like.

In this embodiment, the flash memory has been described as an examplethe fixed persistent storage PRSTR, and the USB memory, portable HDD,memory card, or the like has been described as the additional persistentstorage PRSTR. However, this embodiment is not limited to such specificdevices, and other recording media may be used.

This embodiment performs data I/O processing and the like for thesepersistent storages PRSTR using the data processing API (applicationinterface). A file that records a specific advanced content ADVCT can berecorded in the persistent storage PRSTR. The advanced navigation dataADVNV can copy a file that records it from a data source to thepersistent storage PRSTR or file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH). Aprimary video player PRMVP can directly read and present the primaryvideo set PRMVS from the persistent storage PRSTR. The secondary videoplayer SCDVP can directly read and present a secondary video set SCDVSfrom the persistent storage PRSTR.

<Note About Presentation Objects>

Resource files in a disc, in Persistent Storage or in network need to beonce stored in File Cache.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, the advanced application ADAPL or an advancedsubtitle ADSBT recorded in the information storage medium DISC, thepersistent storage PRSTR, or the network server NTSRV needs to be oncestored in the file cache, and such information then undergoes dataprocessing. When the advanced application ADAPL or advanced subtitleADSBT is once stored in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH),speeding up of the presentation processing and control processing can beguaranteed.

The primary video player PRMVP and secondary video player SDCVP as theplayback processors shown in FIG. 7 will be described later. In short,the primary video player PRMVP includes a main video decoder MVDEC, mainaudio decoder MADEC, sub video decoder SVDEC, sub audio decoder SADEC,and sub-picture decoder SPDEC. As for the secondary video player SCDVP,the main audio decoder MADEC, sub video decoder SVDEC, and sub audiodecoder SADEC are commonly used as those in the primary video playerPRMVP. Also, an advanced element presentation engine AEPEN and advancedsubtitle player ASBPL will also be described later.

<Primary Video Set>

There is only one Primary Video Set on Disc. It consists of IFO, one ormore EVOB files and TMAP files with matching names.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, only one primary video set PRMVS exists in oneinformation storage medium DISC. This primary video set PRMVS includesits management information, one or more enhanced video object filesEVOB, and time map files TMAP, and uses a common filename for each pair.

<Primary Video Set> (Continued)

Primary Video Set is a container format of Primary Audio Video. The datastructure of Primary Video Set is in conformity to Advanced VTS whichconsists of Video Title Set Information (VTSI), Time Map (TMAP) andPrimary Enhanced Video Object (P-EVOB). Primary Video Set shall beplayed back by the Primary Video Player.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The primary video set PRMVS contains a format of a primary audio videoPRMAV. The primary video set PRMVS consists of advanced video title setinformation ADVTSI, time maps TMAP, and primary enhanced video objectP-EVOB, and the like. The primary video set PRMVS shall be played backby the primary video player PRMVP.

Components of the primary video set PRMVS shown in FIG. 7 will bedescribed below.

In this embodiment, the primary video set PRMVS mainly means main videodata recorded on the information storage medium DISC. The data type ofthis primary video set PRMVS consists of a primary audio video PRMAV,and a main video MANVD, main audio MANAD, and sub-picture SUBPT mean thesame information as video information, audio information, andsub-picture information of the conventional DVD-Video and the standardcontent STDCT in this embodiment. The advanced content ADVCT in thisembodiment can newly present a maximum of two frames at the same time.That is, a sub video SUBVD is defined as video information that can beplayed back simultaneously with the main video MANVD. Likewise, a subaudio SUBAD that can be output simultaneously with the main audio MANADis newly defined.

In this embodiment, the following two different use methods of the subaudio SUBAD are available:

1) A method of outputting audio information of the sub video SUBVD usingthe sub audio SUBAD when the main video MANVD and sub video SUBVD arepresented at the same time; and

2) A method of outputting the sub audio SUBAD to be superimposed on themain audio MANAD as a comment of a director when only the main videoMANVD is played back and presented on the screen and the main audioMANAD as audio information corresponding to video data of the main videoMANVD is output and when, for example, the comment of the director isaudibly output to be superposed.

<Secondary Video Set>

Secondary Video Set is used for substitution of Main Video/Main Audiostreams to the corresponding streams in Primary Video Set (SubstituteAudio Video), substitution of Main Audio stream to the correspondingstream in Primary Video Set (Substitute Audio), or used for additionto/substitution of Primary Video Set (Secondary Audio Video). SecondaryVideo Set may be recoded on a disc, recorded in Persistent Storage ordelivered from a server. The file for Secondary Video Set is once storedin File Cache or Persistent Storage before playback, if the data isrecorded on a disc, and it is possible to be played with Primary VideoSet simultaneously Secondary Video Set on a disc may be directlyaccessed in case that Primary Video Set is not played back (i.e. it isnot supplied from a disc). On the other hand, if Secondary Video Set islocated on a server, whole of this data should be once stored in FileCache or Persistent Storage and played back (“Complete downloading”), ora part of this data should be stored in Streaming Buffer sequentiallyand stored data in the buffer is played back without buffer overflowduring downloading data from a server (“Streaming”).

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The secondary video set SCDVS is used as a substitution for the mainaudio MANAD in the primary video set PRMVS, and is also used asadditional information or substitute information of the primary videoset PRMVS. This embodiment is not limited to this. For example, thesecondary video set SCDVS may be used as a substitution for a main audioMANAD of a substitute audio SBTAD or as an addition (superimposedpresentation) or substitution for a secondary audio video SCDAV. In thisembodiment, the content of the secondary video set SCDVS can bedownloaded from the aforementioned network server NTSRV via the network,or can be recorded and used in the persistent storage PRSTR, or can berecorded in advance on the information storage medium DISC of theembodiment of the invention. If information of the secondary video setSCDVS is recorded in the information storage medium DISC of theembodiment, the following mode is adopted. That is, the secondary videoset file SCDVS is once stored in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH)or the persistent storage PRSTR, and is then played back from the filecache or persistent storage PRSTR. The information of the secondaryvideo set SCDVS can be played back simultaneously with some data of theprimary video set PRMVS. In this embodiment, the primary video set PRMVSrecorded on the information storage medium DISC can be directly accessedand presented, but the secondary video set SCDVS recorded on theinformation storage medium DISC in this embodiment cannot be directlyplayed back. In this embodiment, information in the primary video setPRMVS is recorded in the aforementioned persistent storage PRSTR, andcan be directly played back from the persistent storage PRSTR. Morespecifically, when the secondary video set SCDVS is recorded on thenetwork server NTSRV, whole of the secondary video set SCDVS are oncestored in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) or the persistentstorage PRSTR, and are then played back. This embodiment is not limitedto this. For example, a part of the secondary video set SCDVS recordedon the network server NTSRV is once stored in the streaming bufferwithin the range in which the streaming buffer does not overflow, asneeded, and can be played back from there.

<Secondary Video Set> (Continued)

Secondary Video Set can carry three types of Presentation Objects,Substitute Audio Video, Substitute Audio and Secondary Audio Video.Secondary Video Set may be provided from Disc, Network Server,Persistent Storage or File Cache in a player. The data structure ofSecondary Video Set is a simplified and modified structure of AdvancedVTS. It consists of Time Map (TMAP) with attribute information andSecondary Enhanced Video Object (S-EVOB). Secondary Video Set shall beplayed back by the Secondary Video Player.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The secondary video set SCDVS can carry three different types ofpresentation objects, i.e., a substitute audio video SBTAV, a substituteaudio SBTAD, and secondary audio video SCDAV. The secondary video setSCDVS may be provided from the information storage medium DISC, networkserver NTSRV, persistent storage PRSTR, file cache FLCCH, or the like.The data structure of the secondary video set SCDVS is a simplified andpartially modified structure of the advanced video title set ADVTS. Thesecondary video set SCDVS consists of time map TMAP and secondaryenhanced video object S-EVOB. The secondary video set SCDVS shall beplayed back by the secondary video player SCDVP.

Components of the secondary video set SCDVS shown in FIG. 7 will bedescribed below.

Basically, the secondary video set SCDVS indicates data which isobtained by reading information from the persistent storage PRSTR or viathe network, i.e., from a location other than the information storagemedium DISC in this embodiment, and presenting the read information bypartially substituting for the primary video set PRMVS described above.That is, the main audio decoder MADEC shown in FIG. 7 is common to thatof the primary video player PRMVP and the secondary video player SCDVP.When the content of the secondary video set SCDVS is to be played backusing the main audio decoder MADEC in the secondary video player SCDVP,the sub audio SUBAD of the primary video set PRMVS is not played back bythe primary video player PRMVP, and is output after it is substituted bydata of the secondary video set SCDVS. The secondary video set SCDVSconsists of three different types of objects, i.e., the substitute audiovideo SBTAV, substitute audio SBTAD, and secondary audio video SCDAV. Amain audio MANAD in the substitute audio SBTAD is basically used when itsubstitutes for the main audio MANAD in the primary video set PRMVS. Thesubstitute audio video SBTAV consists of the main video MANDV and themain audio MANAD. The substitute audio SBTAD consists of one main audiostream MANAD. For example, when the main audio MANAD recorded in advanceon the information storage medium DISC as the primary video set PRMVSrecords Japanese and English in correspondence with video information ofthe main video MANVD, the main audio MANAD can only present Japanese orEnglish audio information upon presentation to the user. By contrast,this embodiment can attain as follows. That is, for a user who speaksChinese as the native language, Chinese audio information recorded inthe network server NTSRV is downloaded via the network, and audioinformation upon playing back the main video MANVD of the primary videoset PRMVS can be output instead of presenting the audio information inJapanese or English while it is substituted by Chinese as the main audioMANAD of the secondary video set SCDVS. Also, the sub audio SUBAD of thesecondary video set SCDVS can be used when audio informationsynchronized with the window of the sub video SUBVD of the secondaryaudio video SCDAV is to be presented upon presentation on two windows(e.g., when comment information of a director is simultaneouslypresented to be superposed on the main audio MANAD which is output insynchronism with the main video MANVD of the primary video set PRMVSdescribed above).

<Secondary Audio Video>

Secondary Audio Video contains zero or one Sub Video stream and zero toeight Sub Audio streams. This is used for addition to Primary Video Setor substitution of Sub Video stream and Sub Audio stream in PrimaryVideo Set.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, the secondary audio video SCDAV contains zero or onesub video SUBVD and zero to eight sub audio SUBAD. In this embodiment,the secondary audio video SCDAV is used to be superimposed on (inaddition to) the primary video set PRMVS. In this embodiment, thesecondary audio video SCDAV can also be used as a substitution for thesub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD in the primary video set PRMVS.

<Secondary Audio Video> (Continued)

Secondary Audio Video replaces Sub Video and Sub Audio presentations ofPrimary Audio Video. It may consist of Sub Video stream with/without SubAudio stream or Sub Audio stream only. While being played back one ofpresentation stream in Secondary Audio Video, it is prohibited to beplayed Sub Video stream and Sub Audio stream in Primary Audio Video. Thecontainer format of Secondary Audio Video is Secondary Video Set.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The secondary audio video SCDAV replaces the sub video SUBVD and subaudio SUBAD in the primary video set PRMVS. The secondary audio videoSCDAV has the following cases.

1) Case of consisting of the video SUBAD stream only;

2) Case of consisting both the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD; and

3) Case of consisting of the sub audio SUBAD only.

At the time of playing back a stream in the secondary audio video SCDAV,the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD in the primary audio video PRMAVcannot be played back. The secondary audio video SCDAV is included inthe secondary video set SCDVS.

<Advanced Application>

An Advanced Application consists of one Manifest file, Markup file(s)(including content/style/timing/layout information), Script file(s),Image file(s) (JPEG/PNG/MNG/Capture Image Format), Effect Audio file(s)(LPCM wrapped by WAV), Font file(s) (Open Type) and others. A Manifestfile gives information for display layout, an initial Markup file to beexecuted, Script file(s) and resources in the Advanced Application.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced application ADAPL in FIG. 7 consists of information such asa markup file MRKUP, script file SCRPT, still picture IMAGE, effectaudio file EFTAD, font file FONT, and others. As described above, thesepieces of information of the advanced application ADAPL are used oncethey are stored in the file cache. Information related with downloadingto the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) is recorded in a manifestfile MNFST (to be described later). Also, information of the downloadtiming and the like of the advanced application ADAPL is described inresource information RESRCI in the playlist PLLST. In this embodiment,the manifest file MNFST also contains information related with loadingof the markup file MRKUP information executed initially, informationrequired upon loading information recorded in the script file SCRPT ontothe file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH), and the like.

<Advanced Application> (Continued)

Advanced Application provides three functions. The first is to controlentire presentation behavior of Advanced Content. The next is to realizegraphical presentation, such as menu buttons, over the videopresentation. The last is to control effect audio playback. AdvancedNavigation files of Advanced Application, such as Manifest, Script andMarkup, define the behavior of Advanced Application. Advanced Elementfiles are used for graphical and audio presentation.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced application ADAPL provides the following three functions.

The first function is a control function (e.g., jump control betweendifferent frames) for presentation behavior of the advanced contentADVCT. The second function is a function of realizing graphicalpresentation of menu buttons and the like. The third function is aneffect audio playback control function. An advanced navigation fileADVNV contains a manifest MNFST, script file SCRPT, markup file MRKUP,and the like to implement the advanced application ADAPL. Information inan advanced element file ADVEL is related with a still picture IMAGE,font file FONT, and the like, and is used as presentation icons andpresentation audio upon graphical presentation and audio presentation ofthe second function.

<Advanced Subtitle>

An advanced subtitle ADSBT is also used after it is stored in the filecache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) as in the advanced application ADAPL.Information of the advanced subtitle ADSBT can be fetched from theinformation storage medium DISC or persistent storage PRSTR, or via thenetwork. The advanced subtitle ADSBT in this embodiment basicallycontains a substituted explanatory title or telop for a conventionalvideo information or images such as pictographic characters, stillpictures, or the like. As for substitution of the explanatory title, itis basically formed based on text other than the images, and can also bepresented by changing the font file FONT. Such advanced subtitles ADSBTcan be added by downloading them from the network server NTSRV. Forexample, a new explanatory title or a comment for a given videoinformation can be output while playing back the main video MANVD in theprimary video set PRMVS stored in the information storage medium DISC.As described above, the following use method is available. That is, whenthe sub-picture SUBPT stores only Japanese and English subtitles as, forexample, the subtitles in the primary video set PRMVS, the user whospeaks Chinese as the native language downloads a Chinese subtitle asthe advanced subtitle ADSBT from the network server NTSRV via thenetwork, and presents the downloaded subtitle. The data type in thiscase is set as the type of markup file MRKUPS for the advanced subtitleADSBT or font file FONT.

<Advanced Subtitle> (Continued)

Advanced Subtitle is used for subtitle synchronized with video, whichmay be substitution of the Sub-picture data. It consists of one Manifestfile for Advanced Subtitle, Markup file(s) for Advanced Subtitle(including content/style/timing/layout information), Font file(s) andImage file(s). The Markup file for Advanced Subtitle is a subset ofMarkup for Advanced Application.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, the advanced subtitle ADSBT can be used as asubtitle (explanatory title or the like) which is presented insynchronism with the main video MANVD of the primary video set PRMVS.The advanced subtitle ADSBT can also be used as simultaneouspresentation (additional presentation processing) for the sub-pictureSUBPT in the primary video set PRMVS or as a substitute for thesub-picture SUBPT of the primary video set PRMVS. The advanced subtitleADSBT consists of one manifest file MNFSTS for the advanced subtitleADSBT, markup file(s) MRKUPS for the advanced subtitle ADSBT, fontfile(s) FONTS and image file(s) IMAGES. The markup file MRKUPS for theadvanced subtitle ADSBT exists as a subset of the markup file MRKUP ofthe advanced application ADAPL.

<Advanced Subtitle> (Continued)

Advanced Subtitle provides subtitling feature. Advanced Content has twomeans for subtitling. The one is by using with Sub-picture stream inPrimary Audio Video as well as Sub-picture function of Standard Content.The other is by using with Advanced Subtitle. Both means shall not beused at the same time. Advanced Subtitle is a subset of AdvancedApplication.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced content ADVCT has two means for a subtitle.

As the first mean, the subtitle is used as a sub-picture stream in theprimary audio PRMAV as in the sub-picture function of the standardcontent STDCT. As the second mean, the subtitle is used as the advancedsubtitle ADSBT. Both means shall not be used in both the purposes at thesame time. The advanced subtitle ADSBT is a subset of the advancedapplication ADAPL.

<Advanced Stream>

Advanced Stream is a data format of package files containing one or moreAdvanced Content files except for Primary Video Set. Advanced Stream ismultiplexed into Primary Enhanced Video Object Set (P-EVOBS) anddelivered to File Cache with P-EVOBS data supplying to Primary VideoPlayer. The same files which are multiplexed in P-EVOBS and aremandatory for Advanced Content playback, should be stored as files onDisc. These duplicated copies are necessary to guarantee AdvancedContent playback. Because Advanced Stream supply may not be finished,when Advanced Content playback is jumped. In this case, necessary filesare directly copied by File Cache Manager from Disc to Data Cache beforere-starting playback from specified jump timing.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

An advanced stream is a data format of package files containing one ormore advanced content files ADVCT except for the primary video setPRMVS. The advanced stream is recorded to be multiplexed in a primaryenhanced video object set P-EVOBS, and is delivered to the file cacheFLCCH (data cache DTCCH). This primary enhanced video object set P-EVOBSundergoes playback processing by the primary video player PRMVP. Thesefiles which are recorded to be multiplexed in the primary enhanced videoobject set P-EVOBS are mandatory for playback of the advanced contentADVCT, and should be stored on the information storage medium DISC ofthis embodiment to have a file structure.

<Advanced Navigation>

Advanced Navigation files shall be located as files or archived inpackage file. Advanced Navigation files are read and interpreted forAdvanced Content playback. Playlist, which is Advanced Navigation filefor startup, shall be located on “ADV_OBJ” directory. AdvancedNavigation files may be multiplexed in P-EVOB or archived in packagefile which is multiplexed in P-EVOB.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

Files related with the advanced navigation ADVNV are used in interruptprocessing upon playback of the advanced content ADVCT.

<Primary Audio Video>

Primary Audio Video can provide several presentation streams, MainVideo, Main Audio, Sub Video, Sub Audio and Sub-picture. A player cansimultaneously play Sub Video and Sub Audio, in addition to Main Videoand Main Audio. Primary Audio Video shall be exclusively provided fromDisc. The container format of Primary Audio Video is Primary Video Set.Possible combination of video and audio presentation is limited by thecondition between Primary Audio Video and other Presentation Objectwhich is carried by Secondary Video Set. Primary Audio Video can alsocarry various kinds of data files which may be used by AdvancedApplication, Advanced Subtitle and others. The container stream forthese files is called Advanced Stream.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The primary audio video PRMAV is composed of streams containing a mainvideo MANVD, main audio MANAD, sub video SUBVD, sub audio SUBAD, andsub-picture SUBPT. The information playback apparatus can simultaneouslyplay back the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD, in addition to themain video MANVD and main audio MANAD. The primary audio video PRMAVshall be recorded in the information storage medium DISC or thepersistent storage PRSTR. The primary audio video PRMAV is included as apart of the primary video set PRMVS. Possible combination of video andaudio presentation is limited by the condition between the primary audiovideo PRMAV and the secondary video set SDCVS. The primary audio videoPRMAV can also carry various kinds of data files which may be used bythe advanced application ADAPL, advanced subtitle ADSBT, and others. Thestream contained in these files are called an advanced stream.

<Substitute Audio>

Substitute Audio replaces the Main Audio presentation of Primary AudioVideo. It shall consist of Main Audio stream only. While being playedSubstitute Audio, it is prohibited to be played back Main Audio inPrimary Video Set. The container format of Substitute Audio is SecondaryVideo Set. If Secondary Video Set includes Substitute Audio Video, thenSecondary Video Set can not contain Substitute Audio.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The substitute audio SBTAD replaces the main audio MANAD presentation ofthe primary audio video PRMAV. This substitute audio SBTAD shallconsists of a main audio MANAD stream only. Wile being played thesubstitute audio SBTAD, it is prohibited to be played back the mainaudio MANAD in the primary video set PRMVS. The substitute audio SBTADis contained in the secondary video set SCDVS.

<Primary Enhanced Video Object (P-EVOB) for Advanced Content>

Primary Enhanced Video Object (P-EVOB) for Advanced Content is the datastream which carries presentation data of Primary Video Set. PrimaryEnhanced Video Object for Advanced Content is just referred as PrimaryEnhanced Video Object or P-EVOB. Primary Enhanced Video Object complieswith Program Stream prescribed in “The system part of the MPEG-2standard (ISO/IEC 13818-1)”. Types of presentation data of Primary VideoSet are Main Video, Main Audio, Sub Video, Sub Audio and Sub-picture.Advanced Stream is also multiplexed into P-EVOB.

Possible pack types in P-EVOB are followings.

Navigation Pack (NV_PCK)

Main Video Pack (VM_PCK)

Main Audio Pack (AM_PCK)

Sub Video Pack (VS_PCK)

Sub Audio Pack (AS_PCK)

Sub-picture Pack (SP_PCK)

Advanced Pack (ADV_PCK)

Time Map (TMAP) for Primary Video Set specifies entry points for eachPrimary Enhanced Video Object Unit (P-EVOBU).

Access Unit for Primary Video Set is based on access unit of Main Videoas well as traditional Video Object (VOB) structure. The offsetinformation for Sub Video and Sub Audio is given by SynchronousInformation (SYNCI) as well as Main Audio and Sub-picture.

Advanced Stream is used for supplying various kinds of Advanced Contentfiles to the File Cache without any interruption of Primary Video Setplayback. The demux module in the Primary Video Player distributesAdvanced Stream Pack (ADV_PCK) to the File Cache Manager in theNavigation Manager.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The primary enhanced video object P-EVOB for the advanced content ADVCTis the data stream which carries presentation data of the primary videoset PRMVS. As the types of presentation data of the primary video setPRMVS, the main video MANVD, main audio MANAD, sub video SUBVD, subaudio SUBAD, and sub-picture SUBPT are included. In this embodiment, aspacks included in the primary enhanced video object P-EVOB, a navigationpack NV_PCK exists as in the existing DVD and the standard contentSTDCT, and an advanced stream pack that records the advanced streamexists. In this embodiment, offset information to the sub video SUBVDand sub audio SUBAD is recorded in synchronous information SYNCI as inthe main audio MANAD and sub-picture SUBPT.

<File Structure>

FIG. 15 shows the file structure when various object streams shown inFIG. 7 are recorded on the information storage medium DISC. In thisembodiment, as for the advanced content ADVCT, an advanced contentdirectory ADVCT is allocated immediately under the root directory of theinformation storage medium DISC, and all files are recorded in thatdirectory. A playlist file PLLST that records information related withplayback exists under the advanced content directory ADVCT. Togetherwith this file, an advanced application directory ADAPL that recordsinformation related with the advanced application, a primary video setdirectory PRMVS that records information related with the primary videoset, a secondary video set directory SCDVS that records informationrelated with the secondary video set, and an advanced subtitle directoryADSBT that records information related with the advanced subtitle arerecorded.

Under the advanced application directory ADAPL, an advanced navigationdirectory ADVNV that records management information related with theadvanced application, and an advanced element directory ADVEL thatrecords information related with various advanced elements (objectinformation and the like) use in the advanced application. The advancednavigation directory ADVNV includes a manifest file MNFST related with amanifest which records the relationship among various kinds ofmanagement information used in the advanced application and informationlists required for network downloading together, a markup file MRKUPwhich records markup data related with page layouts and the like, ascript file SCRPT which records script commands. The advanced elementdirectory ADVEL includes a still picture file IMAGE which records stillpictures, an effect audio file EFTAD which records effect audio data, afont file FONT which records font information, and other file OTHER.

Under the primary video set directory PRMVS, a primary audio videodirectory PRMAV exists. This directory includes a video title setinformation file ADVTSI which records attribute information andmanagement information related with the enhanced video objects of theprimary audio video, a time map file PTMAP of the primary video setwhich records time map information used to convert time information ofthe primary video set into address information, and a primary enhancedvideo object file P-EVOB which records the primary enhanced videoobjects.

Under the secondary video set directory SCDVS, a substitute audiodirectory SBTAD and secondary audio video directory SCDAV exist. Underthe secondary audio video directory SCDAV, a time map file STMAP of thesecondary video set which records time map information used to converttime information of the secondary video set into address information,and a secondary enhanced video object file S-EVOB which records thesecondary enhanced video objects exist. Under the substitute audiodirectory SBTAD as well, the time map file STMAP used to convert timeinformation of the secondary video set into address information, and thesecondary enhanced video object file S-EVOB can be stored.

Under the advanced subtitle directory ADSBT, an advanced navigationdirectory ADVNV which records management information related with theadvanced subtitle, and an advanced element directory ADVEL as elementinformation of the advanced subtitle exist. The advanced navigationdirectory ADVNV includes a manifest file MNFSTS of the advancedsubtitle, and a markup file MRKUPS of the advanced subtitle. Themanifest file MNFSTS of the advanced subtitle records the relationshipamong various kinds of management information related with the advancedsubtitle and information required for network downloading. The markupfile MRKUPS of the advanced subtitle records markup information used todesignate the presentation position of the advanced subtitle on thescreen and the like. The advanced element directory ADVEL includes afont file FONTS of the advanced subtitle which records font informationof the advanced subtitle.

<Directories for Advanced Content>

“Directories for Advanced Content” may exist only under the “ADV_OBJ”directory. Any files of Advanced Navigation, Advanced Element andSecondary Video Set can reside at this directory. The name of thisdirectory shall be consisting of character set defined in Files forAdvanced Content below. The total number of “ADV_OBJ” sub-directories(excluding “ADV_OBJ” directory) shall be less than 512. Directory depthshall be equal or less than 8 from “ADV_OBJ” directory.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The name of the advanced content directory ADVCT and directories andfilenames included in this directory are described using d-characters ord1-characters. Sub-directories exist under the advanced contentdirectory ADVCT. The depth of layers of the sub-directories is eightlayers or less, and the total number of sub-directories shall be lessthan 512 in this embodiment. If the directories are too deep, or if thetotal number of sub-directories is too large, accessibility drops.Therefore, in this embodiment, high-speed access is assured by limitingthe number of layers and that of directories.

<Files for Advanced Content>

The total number of files under the “ADV_OBJ” directory shall be limitedto 512×2047, and the total number of files in each directory shall beless than 2048. Character code set “A to Z a to z 0 to 9 SP ! $ & ' () + , - . ; = @ _” (20h, 21h, 24h to 29h, 2Bh to 2Eh, 30h to 39h, 3Bh,3Dh, 40h to 5Ah, 5Fh, 61h to 7Ah in ISO 8859-1) are used for filename.The length of the filename shall be equal to or less than 255characters. For use of the filename, following rule shall be applied.

-   -   A disc may have characters in both upper case and lower case.    -   A disc must not have the same filename where only the difference        case character. (e.g. test.jpg and TEST.JPG must not co-exist in        a disc)    -   Filename referred in XML/Script document shall match the        filename for Advanced Element in a disc/Persistent        Storage/network. <case-sensitive> (e.g. test.jpg is not linked        to TEST.JPG)

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The total number of files that can be recorded under the advancedcontent directory ADVCT shall be limited to be 512×2047, and the totalnumber of files that can be recorded in each directory is shall be lessthan 2048. The filename adopts a structure in which a dot “.” isallocated after each filename, and an extension is allocated after thedot “.”. The advanced content directory ADVCT is recorded directly underthe root directory of the information storage medium, and the playlistfile PLLST is recorded directly under this advanced content directoryADVCT.

<Playlist>

A Playlist file shall reside under “ADV_OBJ” directory with having thefilename “VPLST%%%.XPL” for a player which connects with a displaydevice, or the filename “APLST&&&.XPL” for a player which doesn'tconnect with a display device, in case of Category 2 disc and Category 3disc. If the Playlist file is necessary to be read in the startupsequence, the Playlist file shall reside directly under “ADV_OBJ”directory (its sub-directories are not included), and “%%%” and “&&&”are described by the value “000” to “999”. In this case, the Playlistfile which has the maximum number shall be read initially in the startupsequence.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

A plurality of playlist files PLLST can be recorded on the informationstorage medium DISC. As the playlist file PLLST, two different types ofplaylist files PLLST can be set. The filename of a playlist file PLLSTwhich is directly accessed by the information playback apparatus uponplayback is set to be “VPLIST%%%.XML”, and that of a playlist file PLLSTwhich is not directly accessed by the information playback apparatus isset to be “APLIST&&&.XML”. Note that “%%%” and “&&&” store numeralsranging from 000 to 999.

<Filename for Advanced Video Title Set (Advanced VTS)>

The filename for Video Title Set Information shall be “HVA00001.VTI”.

The filename for Enhanced Video Object shall have extension of “EVO”.

The filename of Time Map Information for Contiguous Block shall havesame body in filename as that of a corresponding EVOB, with extension of“MAP”.

The filename of Time Map Information for Interleaved Block shall havesame body in filename as that of corresponding EVOBs, with extension of“MAP”.

The filename of Time Map Information for Standard VTS referred inAdvanced Content shall be “HVSO@@@@.MAP”.

“@@@@” shall be four characters of “0001” to “1998” which are samenumber as EVOB index number assigned to each EVOBI and TMAP.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The advanced video title set information file ADVTSI shown in FIG. 15shall have a filename of “HVA00001.VTI”. The extension of the filenameof the primary enhanced video object file P-EVOB and that of thesecondary enhanced video object file S-EVOB shall be “EVO”. Theextension of the filename of the time map file PTMAP of the primaryvideo set and that of the time map file STMAP of the secondary video setshall be “MAP”.

The number of files of the primary video set time map files PTMAP andsecondary video set time map files STMAP shall be limited to 999 orfewer. By specifying the number of time map files, speeding up of accesscontrol to the enhanced object EVOB is guaranteed.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show the data structure of an advanced content andexplanations of effects and the like.

<Advanced Content>

Advanced Content realizes more interactivity in addition to theextension of audio and video realized by Standard Content. AdvancedContent consists of followings.

Playlist

Primary Video Set

Secondary Video Set

Advanced Application

Advanced Subtitle

Playlist gives playback information among presentation objects as shownin FIG. 6A. For instance, to play back Primary Video Set, a player readsa TMAP file by using URI described in the Playlist, interprets an EVOBIreferred by the TMAP and access appropriate P-EVOB defined in the EVOBI.To present Advanced Application, a player reads a Manifest file by usingURI described in the Playlist, and starts to present an initial Markupfile described in the Manifest file after storing resource elements(including the initial file).

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, there is provided the advanced content ADVCT whichfurther extends the audio and video expression format implemented by thestandard content STDCT and realizes interactivity. The advanced contentADVCT consists of the playlist PLLST, the primary video set PRMVS,secondary video set SCDVS, advanced application ADAPL, and advancedsubtitle ADSBT shown in FIG. 7. The playlist PLLST shown in FIG. 6Arecords information related with the playback methods of various kindsof object information, and these pieces of information are recorded asone playlist file PLLST under the advanced content directory ADVCT, asshown in FIG. 15.

<Playlist> (Again)

A Playlist file is described by XML and one or more Playlist file arelocated on a disc. A player interprets initially a Playlist file to playback Advanced Content. The Playlist file consists of followinginformation.

Object Mapping Information

Track Number Assignment Information

Track Navigation Information

Resource Information

Playback Sequence Information

System Configuration Information

Scheduled Control Information

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The playlist PLLST or the playlist file PLLST which records the playlistPLLST is described using XML, and one or more playlist files PLLST arerecorded in the information storage medium DISC. In the informationstorage medium DISC which records the advanced content ADVCT thatbelongs to category 2 or category 3 in this embodiment, the informationplayback apparatus searches for the playlist file PLLST immediatelyafter insertion of the information storage medium DISC. In thisembodiment, the playlist file PLLST includes the following information.

1) Object Mapping Information OBMAPI

Object mapping information OBMAPI is set as playback information relatedwith objects such as the primary video set PRMVS, secondary video setSCDVS, advanced application ADAPL, advanced subtitle ADSBT, and thelike. In this embodiment, the playback timing of each object data isdescribed in the form of mapping on a title timeline to be describedlater. In the object mapping information OBMAPI, the locations of theprimary video set PRMVS and secondary video set SCDVS are designatedwith reference to a location (directory or URL) where their time mapfile PTMAP or time map file STMAP exists. In the object mappinginformation OBMAPI, the advanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitleADSBT are determined by designating the manifest file MNFSTcorresponding to these objects or its location (directory or URL).

2) Track Number Assignment Information

This embodiment allows to have a plurality of audio streams andsub-picture streams. On the playlist PLLST, information indicating whatnumber of stream data is to be presented is described. The informationindicating what number of stream is used is described as a track number.As the track number to be described, video track numbers for videostreams, sub video track numbers for sub video streams, audio tracknumbers for audio streams, sub audio track numbers for sub audiostreams, subtitle track numbers for subtitle streams, and applicationtrack numbers for application streams are set.

3) Track Navigation Information TRNAVI

Track navigation information TRNAVI describes related information forthe assigned track numbers, and records attribute information forrespective track numbers as lists for the sake of convenience for user'sselection. For example, language codes and the like are recorded in thenavigation information for respective track numbers: track No.1=Japanese; track No. 2=English; track No. 3=Chinese; and so forth. Byutilizing the track navigation information TRNAVI, the user canimmediately determine a favorite language.

4) Resource Information RESRCI

Resource information RESRCI indicates timing information such as a timelimit of transfer of a resource file into the file cache and the like.This resource information also describes reference timings of resourcefiles and the like in the advanced application ADAPL.

5) Playback Sequence Information PLSQI

Playback sequence information PLSQI describes information, which allowsthe user to easily execute jump processing to a given chapter position,such as chapter information in a single title and the like. Thisplayback sequence information PLSQI is presented as a time designationpoint on a title timeline TMLE.

6) System Configuration Information

System configuration information records structural information requiredto constitute a system such as a stream buffer size that represents thedata size required upon storing data in the file cache via the Internet,and the like.

7) Scheduled Control Information SCHECI

Scheduled control information SCHECI records schedule indicating pausepositions (timings) and event starting positions (timings) on the titletimeline TMLE.

<Data Reference from Playlist>

FIG. 6A shows the data reference method to respective objects by theplaylist PLLST. For example, when specific primary enhanced objectP-EVOB is to be played back on the playlist PLLST, that primary enhancedobject P-EVOB shall be accessed after enhanced video object informationEVOBI which records its attribute information is referred to. Theplaylist PLLST specifies the playback range of the primary enhancedobject P-EVOB as time information on the timeline. For this reason, thetime map information PTMAP of the primary video set shall be referred tofirst as a tool used to convert the designated time information into theaddress position on the information storage medium DISC. Likewise, theplayback range of secondary enhanced video object S-EVOB is alsodescribed as time information on the playlist PLLST. In order to searchthe data source of the secondary enhanced video object S-EVOB on theinformation storage medium DISC within that range, the time mapinformation STMAP of the secondary video set SCDVS is referred to first.Data of the advanced application ADAPL shall be stored on the file cachebefore they are used by the information playback apparatus, as shown inFIG. 7. For this reason, in order to use various data of the advancedapplication ADAPL, the manifest file MNFST shall be referred to from theplaylist PLLST to transfer various resource files described in themanifest file MNFST (the storage locations and resource filenames of theresource files are also described in the manifest file MNFST) onto thefile cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH). Similarly, in order to user variousdata of the advanced subtitle ADSBT, they shall be stored on the filecache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) in advance. By utilizing the manifestfile MNFSTS of the advanced subtitle ADSBT, data transfer to the filecache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) can be made. Based on the markup fileMRKUPS in the advanced subtitle ADSBT, the representation position andtiming of the advanced subtitle ADSBT on the screen can be detected, andthe font file FONTS in the advanced subtitle ADSBT can be utilized whenthe advanced subtitle ADSBT information is presented on the screen.

<Reference to Time Map>

In order to present the primary video set PRMVS, the time mapinformation PTMAP shall be referred to and access processing to primaryenhanced video object P-EVOB defined by the enhanced video objectinformation EVOBI shall be executed.

<Network Route>

FIG. 1 shows an example of the network route from the network serverNTSRV to the information recording and playback apparatus 1, which goesthrough the router 11 in the home via the optical cable 12 to attaindata connection via a wireless LAN in the home. However, this embodimentis not limited to this. For example, this embodiment may have anothernetwork route. FIG. 1 illustrates a personal computer as the informationrecording and playback apparatus 1. However, this embodiment is notlimited to this. For example, a single home recorder or a single homeplayer may be set as the information recording and playback apparatus.Also, data may be directly displayed on the monitor by a wire withoutusing the wireless LAN.

In this embodiment, the network server NTSRV shown in FIG. 1 storesinformation of the secondary video set SCDVS, advanced applicationADAPL, and advanced subtitle ADSBT shown in FIG. 7 in advance, and thesepieces of information can be delivered to the home via the optical cable12. Various data sent via the optical cable 12 are transferred to theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1 in the form of wirelessdata 17 via the router 11 in the home. The router 11 comprises thewireless LAN controller 7-2, data manager 9, and network controller 8.The network controller 8 controls data updating processing with thenetwork server NTSRV, and the wireless LAN controller 7-2 transfers datato the home wireless LAN. The data manager 9 controls such data transferprocessing. Data of various contents of the secondary video set SCDVS,advanced application ADAPL, and advanced subtitle ADSBT, which are sentto be multiplexed on the wireless data 17 from the router 11, arereceived by the wireless LAN controller 7-1, and are then sent to theadvanced content playback unit ADVPL, and some data are stored in thedata cache DTCCH shown in FIG. 13. The information playback apparatus ofthis embodiment incorporates the advanced content playback unit ADVPLwhich plays back the advanced content ADVCT, the standard contentplayback unit STDPL which plays back the standard content STDCT, and therecording and playback processor 4 which performs video recording on therecordable information storage medium DISC or the hard disk device 6 andcan play back data from there. These playback units and the recordingand playback processor 4 are organically controlled by the main CPU 5.As shown in FIG. 1, information is played back or recorded from or onthe information storage medium DISC in the information recording andplayback unit 2. In this embodiment, media to be played back by theadvanced content playback unit ADVPL are premised on playback ofinformation from the information recording and playback unit 2 or thepersistent storage drive (fixed or portable flash memory drive) 3. Inthis embodiment, as described above, data recorded on the network serverNTSRV can also be played back. In this case, as described above, datasaved in the network server NTSRV go through the optical cable 12, gothrough the wireless LAN controller 7-2 in the router 11 under thenetwork control in the router 11 to be transferred in the form ofwireless data 17, and are then transferred to the advanced contentplayback unit ADVPL via the wireless LAN controller 7-1. Videoinformation to be played back by the advanced content playback unitADVPL can be displayed on the wide-screen TV monitor 15 from thewireless LAN controller 7-1 in the form of wireless data 18 when it canbe displayed on the display 13 or when a user request of presentation ona wider screen is detected. The wide-screen TV monitor 15 incorporatesthe video processor 24, video display unit 21, and wireless LANcontroller 7-3. The wireless data 18 is received by the wireless LANcontroller 7-3, then undergoes video processing by the video processor24, and is displayed on the wide-screen TV monitor 15 via the videodisplay unit 21. At the same time, audio data is output via theloudspeakers 16-1 and 16-2. The user can make operations on a window(menu window or the like) displayed on the display 13 using the keyboard14.

<Internal Structure of Advanced Content Playback Unit>

The internal structure of the advanced content playback unit ADVPL inthe system explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 1 will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the advanced contentplayback unit ADVPL comprises the following five logical functionalmodules.

<Data Access Manager>

Data Access Manager is responsible to exchange various kind of dataamong data sources and internal modules of Advanced Content Player.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

A data access manager DAMNG is used to manage data exchange between theexternal data source where the advanced content ADVCT is recorded, andmodules in the advanced content playback unit ADVPL. In this embodiment,as the data source of the advanced content ADVCT, the persistent storagePRSTR, network server NTSRV, and information storage medium DISC arepremised, and the data access manager DAMNG exchanges information fromthem. Various kinds of information of the advanced content ADVCT areexchanged with a navigation manager NVMNG (to be described later), thedata cache DTCCH, and a presentation engine PRSEN via the data accessmanager DAMNG.

<Data Cache>

Data Cache is temporal data storage for Advanced Content playback.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The data cache DTCCH is used as a temporal data storage (temporary datasave location) in the advanced content playback unit ADVPL.

<Navigation Manager>

Navigation Manager is responsible to control all functional modules ofAdvanced Content player in accordance with descriptions in AdvancedApplication. Navigation Manager is also responsible to control userinterface devices, such as remote controller or front panel of a player.Received user interface device events are handled in Navigation Manager.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The navigation manager NVMNG controls all functional modules of theadvanced content playback unit ADVPL in accordance with the descriptioncontents of the advanced application ADAPL. This navigation managerNVMNG also makes control in response to a user operation UOPE. The useroperation UOPE is generated based on key in on a front panel of theinformation playback apparatus, that on a remote controller, and thelike. Information received from the user operation UOPE generated inthis way is processed by the navigation manager NVMNG.

<Presentation Engine>

Presentation Engine is responsible for playback of presentationmaterials, such as Advanced Element of Advanced Application, AdvancedSubtitle, Primary Video Set and Secondary Video set.

The presentation engine PRSEN performs presentation playback of theadvanced content ADVCT.

<AV Renderer>

AV Renderer is responsible to composite video inputs and mix audioinputs from other modules and output to external devices such asspeakers and display.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

An AV renderer AVRND executes composition processing of videoinformation and audio information input from other modules, andexternally outputs composite information to the loudspeakers 16-1 and16-2, the wide-screen TV monitor 15, and the like. The audio informationused in this case may be either independent stream information or audioinformation obtained by mixing the sub audio SUBAD and main audio MANAD.

<Implementation of Automatic Updating of Object Information, etc.>

A practical example of new effects obtained as a result of the technicaldevices according to this embodiment, which have been described usingFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3Aand 3B. As a method of exhibiting a new effect 5.1) “Automatic updatingof object information and intra-disc management information” of 5]“Provide information update function on disc using network,” in thisembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the commercial 44 as commercialinformation, the independent window 32 for a commercial, the telopcommercial 43, and the preview 41 can always be supplied to the user asthe latest video information. This point is a large technical feature inthis embodiment.

By always changing the preview 41 to the latest information, the previewof the movie can be timely conducted to the users so as to create anopportunity to call them to a movie theater. In this embodiment, sincethe commercials (commercial 44, independent window 32 for a commercial,and telop commercial 43) are presented to be linked with playback of themain title 31, sponsor charges are collected from commercial sponsorslike in normal TV broadcasting, thus holding down the sales prices ofthe information storage media to the users. The concept of insertion ofcommercials into video information has been popularly proposedconventionally. In this embodiment, the latest commercial information isread from the network server NTSRV and the latest commercial informationis presented to be linked with showing of the main title 31 recorded onthe information storage medium DISC. This point is a large technicalfeature in this embodiment. The latest preview 41 and commercialinformation are sequentially updated and saved in the network serverNTSRV shown in FIG. 1, and are downloaded via the network in synchronismwith the playback timing of the main title 31 recorded in theinformation storage medium DISC. The relationship between respectiveobjects shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and those shown in FIG. 7 will bedescribed below.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the main title 31 includes the main video MANVD andmain audio MANAD of the primary audio video PRMAV in the primary videoset PRMVS. The preview 41, commercial 44, and independent window 32 fora commercial are also recorded as the sub video SUBVD and sub audioSUBAD of the primary audio video PRMAV in the primary video set PRMVS inthe information storage medium DISC. However, when a specific period oftime has elapsed after creation of the information storage medium DISC,these pieces of information become too old to be presented. In suchcase, these pieces of information are substituted by the sub video SUBVDand sub audio SUBAD of the secondary audio video SCDAV in the secondaryvideo set SCDVS saved in the network server NTSRV, and are presented asthe commercial 44 or the independent window 32 for a commercial. In thisembodiment, the commercial 44 which is recorded in advance on theinformation storage medium DISC can be recorded as the main video MANVDand main audio MANAD of the primary audio video PRMAV in the primaryvideo set PRMVS as another embodiment. Likewise, when information of thepreview 41 is recorded in the information storage medium DISC, it isrecorded in the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD of the primary audiovideo PRMAV in the primary video set PRMVS or in the main video MANVDand main audio MANAD of the primary audio video PRMAV. When a specificperiod of time has elapsed after creation of the information storagemedium DISC upon playback, that information is downloaded from thenetwork server NTSRV as information of the sub video SUBVD and sub audioSUBAD in the secondary audio video SCDAV in the secondary video setSCDVS, and the downloaded information is presented. In this way,according to this embodiment, the commercial 44, information of theindependent window 32 for a commercial or telop commercial 43, and thepreview 41 can always be presented to the user as the latest ones, thusimproving the PR effects.

<Detailed Playback Method of Video Content>

Presentation examples of the video content in this embodiment will bedescribed in detail below with reference to (a), (b), and (c) of FIGS.3A and 3B.

In (a) of FIG. 3A, when the information storage medium DISC is insertedinto the information recording and playback apparatus 1, the necessityexplanatory video information 42 of detailed navigation is presentedfirst. If the user does not feel the necessity of detailed navigation,he or she ignores it. However, if the user wants to see an explanationof the method of playing back the advanced content ADVCT on thisinformation storage medium DISC, he or she inputs necessity of detailednavigation to present directions of use of detailed navigation (notshown). In case of (c) in FIG. 3B, how to use a help key (to bedescribed later) is explained in the necessity explanatory videoinformation 42 of detailed navigation, and a help icon is presented allthe time. As a result, the user can designate the help icon when neededto ask for an explanation of the use method.

In (a) of FIG. 3A, the aforementioned commercial 44 is inserted in themiddle of presentation of the main title 31 like in the broadcast TVscreen, and the presentation method and timing of the commercial 44 arethe same as those of commercials normally presented on broadcastreception TVs. In (a) of FIG. 3A, the preview 41 of a forthcoming movieof the content provider of the information storage medium DISC ispresented after completion of presentation of the main title 31.

In (b) of FIG. 3B, the latest commercial 43 is presented to besuperimposed on presentation of the main title 31 in the form of atelop. As a method of always updating the presentation information ofthe telop commercial 43 to the latest information, this embodimentutilizes the advanced subtitle ADSBT with the aid of networkdownloading. This point is a large technical feature in this embodiment.That is, at an early timing, the telop commercial 43 is presented in theform of a telop (running text information) in the sub-picture SUBPT ofthe primary audio video PRMAV in the primary video set PRMVS. When aspecific period of time has elapsed after the manufacture of theinformation storage medium DISC, since the latest information of thetelop commercial 43 is recorded as the advanced subtitle ADSBT in thenetwork server NTSRV, it is downloaded via the network and is presentedas the telop commercial 43.

A video content presentation example in (c) of FIG. 3B will be explainedbelow. In (c) of FIG. 3B, the preview 41 of a movie to be screened in amovie theater is presented immediately after the necessity explanatoryvideo information 42 of detailed navigation, and the main title 31 ispresented after presentation of the preview 41. In this case, theindependent window 32 for a different commercial is presented inaddition to the main title 31, and the help icon 33 is presented at thesame time. In this embodiment, the contents of the main title 31 arerecorded in advance in the information storage medium DISC as the mainvideo MANVD and main audio MANAD of the primary audio video PRMAV in theprimary video set PRMVS. The independent window 32 for a differentcommercial is recorded as the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD of theprimary audio video PRMAV in the primary video set PRMVS in theinformation storage medium DISC. This information is presented to theuser at an early timing. When a specific period of time has elapsedafter the manufacture of the information storage medium DISC, theindependent window 32 for a different commercial can present an updatedvideo information in this embodiment. As this method, information of theindependent window 32 for the latest commercial is saved in the networkserver NTSRV as the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD of the secondaryaudio video SCDAV in the secondary video set SCDAV, and is downloaded asneeded via the network, thus presenting the latest information to theuser. In the embodiment in (c) of FIG. 3B, the help icon 33 includes thestill picture file IMAGE and script file SCRPT of the advancedapplication ADAPL.

<Practical Example of Presentation Window>

FIG. 4 shows an example of the presentation window at point α when themain title 31, the independent window 32 for a commercial, and the helpicon 33 are displayed at the same time in (c) of FIG. 3B.

The main title 31 is presented on the upper left area in FIG. 4, theindependent window 32 for a commercial is presented on the upper rightarea, and the help icon 33 is presented on the lower area. New effectsas a result of the technical devices according to this embodiment shownin the window of FIG. 4 and FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C will be describedbelow.

As for 1] “Make flexible and impressive reactions in response to user'sactions” as the new effect obtained as a result of the technical devicesaccording to this embodiment described using FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, aflexible and impressive window close to a homepage on the Internet canbe created in this embodiment. The help icon 33 in FIG. 4 corresponds to1.4) “PC-like help” and 1.5) “How to use guide of menu, etc.,” as thepractical new effects of this embodiment. Picture data of the help icon33 on this window exists as the still picture file IMAGE of the advancedapplication ADAPL, and its information is stored in the advanced elementdirectory ADVEL in the advanced application directory ADAPL under theadvanced content directory ADVCT in the information storage medium DISCshown in FIG. 15. When the user clicks the help icon 33, a helpcompatible picture begins to move. Command processing related with suchmovement is recorded in the script file SCRPT in the advancedapplication ADAPL, i.e., it is stored in the script file SCRPT under theadvanced navigation directory ADVNV in the advanced applicationdirectory ADAPL under the advanced content directory ADVCT in FIG. 15.Information used to designate the still picture of the help icon 33 andan area defined by the script file is recorded in the markup file MRKUPshown in FIG. 15, and associating information (related informationrequired to download data) among these pieces of information is recordedin the manifest file MNFST. A plurality of pieces of information such asthe stop button 34, play button 35, FR (fast-rewinding) button 36, pausebutton 37, FF (fast-forwarding) button 38, and the like shown in FIG. 4are categorized as the advanced application ADAPL. Still picturescorresponding to these icons are stored in the still picture file IMAGEin FIG. 15, execution commands upon designation of each of these buttonsare recorded in the script file in FIG. 15, and their area designationsare recorded in the markup file MRKUP.

The window in FIG. 4 which corresponds to 3.1) “Simultaneously present aplurality of pieces of video information by means of multi-windows” and3.4) “Simultaneously present scrolling text to be superimposed on videoinformation” of 3] “Simultaneously present independent information to besuperimposed on video information during playback” of the new effects asa result of the technical devices according to this embodiment shown inFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C will be described below.

In the existing DVD, only one type of video information can be displayedon one window. By contrast, in this embodiment, the sub video SUBVD andsub audio SUBAD can be presented simultaneously with the main videoMANVD and main audio MANAD. More specifically, the main title 31 in FIG.4 corresponds to the main video MANVD and main audio MANAD in theprimary video set PRMVS, and the independent window 32 for a commercialon the right side corresponds to the sub video SUBVD and sub audioSUBAD, so that the two windows can be displayed at the same time.Furthermore, in this embodiment, the independent window 32 for acommercial on the right side in FIG. 4 can be presented by substitutingit by the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD in the secondary video setSCDVS. This point is a large technical feature in this embodiment. Thatis, the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD in the primary audio videoof the primary video set PRMVS are recorded in advance in theinformation storage medium DISC, and the sub video SUBVD and sub audioSUBAD in the secondary video set SCDVS to be updated are recorded in thenetwork server NTSRV. Immediately after creation of the informationstorage medium DISC, the independent window 32 for a commercial recordedin advance in the information storage medium DISC is presented. When aspecific period of time has elapsed after creation of the informationstorage medium DISC, the sub video SUBVD and sub audio SUBAD in thesecondary video set SCDVS recorded in the network server NTSRV aredownloaded via the network and are presented to update the independentwindow 32 for a commercial to the latest video information. In thismanner, the independent window 32 for the latest commercial can alwaysbe presented to the user, thus improving the commercial effect of asponsor. Therefore, by collecting a large amount of commercial chargefrom the sponsor, the price of the information storage medium DISC to besold can be hold down, thus promoting prevalence of the informationstorage medium DISC in this embodiment. In addition, a telop textmessage 39 shown in FIG. 4 can be presented to be superimposed on themain title 31. As the telop text message, the latest information such asnews, weather forecast, and the like is saved on the network serverNTSRV in the form of the advanced subtitle ADSBT, and is presented whilebeing downloaded via the network as needed, thus greatly improving theuser's convenience. Note that text font information of the telop textmessage at that time can be stored in the font file FONTS in theadvanced element directory ADVEL in the advanced subtitle directoryADSBT, as shown in FIG. 15. Information about the size and presentationposition on the main title 31 of this telop text message 39 can berecorded in the markup file MRKUPS of the advanced subtitle ADSBT in theadvanced navigation directory ADVNV under the advanced subtitledirectory ADSBT in FIG. 15.

<Overview of Information in Playlist>

An overview of information in the playlist PLLST in this embodiment willbe described below with reference to FIG. 14. The playlist PLLST in thisembodiment is recorded in the playlist file PLLST located immediatelyunder the advanced content directory ADVCT in the information storagemedium DISC or persistent storage PRSTR, as shown in FIG. 15, andrecords management information related with playback of the advancedcontent ADVCT. The playlist PLLST records information such as playbacksequence information PLSQI, object mapping information OBMAPI, resourceinformation RESRCI, and the like. The playback sequence informationPLSQI records information of each title in the advanced content ADVCTpresent in the information storage medium DISC, persistent storagePRSTR, or network server NTSRV, and division position information ofchapters that divide video information in the title. The object mappinginformation OBMAPI manages the presentation timings and positions on thescreen of respective objects of each title. Each title is set with atitle timeline TMLE, and the presentation start and end timings of eachobject can be set using time information on that title timeline TMLE.The resource information RESRCI records information of the prior storagetiming of each object information to be stored in the data cache DTCCH(file cache FLCCH) before it is presented on the screen for each title.For example, the resource information RESRCI records information such asa loading start time LDSTTM for starting loading onto the data cacheDTCCH (file cache FLCCH), a use valid period VALPRD in the data cacheDTCCH (file cache FLCCH), and the like.

<Presentation Control Based on Title Timeline>

As shown in FIG. 14, management information which designates an objectto be presented and its presentation location on the screen ishierarchized into two levels, i.e., the playlist PLLST, and the markupfile MRKUP and the markup file MRKUPS in the advanced subtitle ADSBT(via the manifest file MNFST and the manifest file MNFSTS in theadvanced subtitle ADSBT), and the presentation timing of an object to bepresented in the playlist PLLST is set in synchronism with the titletimeline TMLE. This point is a large technical feature in thisembodiment. In addition, the presentation timing of an object to bepresented is set in synchronism with the title timeline TMLE similarlyin the markup file MRKUP or the markup file MRKUPS of the advancedsubtitle ADSBT. This point is also a large technical feature in thisembodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information contents ofthe playlist PLLST as management information that designates the objectto be presented and its presentation location, the markup file MRKUP,and the markup file MRKUPS of the advanced subtitle ADSBT are describedusing an identical description language (XML). This point is also alarge technical feature in this embodiment, as will be described below.With this feature, easy edit and change processing of the advancedcontent ADVCT by its producer can be greatly improved compared to theconventional DVD-Video. As another effect, processing such as skipprocessing of the playback location and the like in the advanced contentplayback unit ADVPL which performs presentation processing upon specialplayback can be simplified.

<Relationship Between Various Kinds of Information on Window andPlaylist>

A description of features of this embodiment will be continued withreference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the main title 31, the independentwindow 32 for a commercial, and various icon buttons on the lower areaare presented on the window. The main video MANVD in the primary videoset PRMVS is presented on the upper left area of the window as the maintitle 31, and its presentation timing is described in the playlistPLLST. The presentation timing of this main title 31 is set insynchronism with the title timeline TMLE. The presentation location andtiming of the independent window 32 for a commercial recorded as, e.g.,the sub video SUBVD are also described in the aforementioned sameplaylist PLLST. The presentation timing of this the independent window32 for a commercial is also designated in synchronism with the titletimeline TMLE. In the existing DVD-Video, the window from the help icon33 to the FF button 38 in, e.g., FIG. 4 is recorded as the sub-pictureSUBPT in a video object, and command information executed upondepression of each button from the help icon 33 to the FF button 38 issimilarly recorded as highlight information HLI in a navigation pack inthe video object. As a result, easy edit and change processing by thecontent producer is not allowed. By contrast, in this embodiment, aplurality of pieces of command information corresponding to windowinformation from the help icon 33 to the FF button 38 are groupedtogether as the advanced application ADAPL, and only the presentationtiming and the presentation location on the window of the groupedadvanced application ADAPL are designated on the playlist PLLST.Information related with the grouped advanced application ADAPL shall bedownloaded onto the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) before it ispresented on the window. The playlist PLLST describes only the filenameand file saving location of the manifest file MNFST (manifest fileMNFSTS) that records information required to download data related withthe advanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitle ADSBT. Theplurality of pieces of window information themselves from the help icon33 to the FF button 38 in FIG. 4 are saved in the advanced elementdirectory ADVEL as still picture files IMAGE (see FIG. 15). Informationwhich manages the locations on the window and presentation timings ofrespective still pictures IMAGE from the help icon 33 to the FF button38 in FIG. 4 is recorded in the markup file MRKUP. This information isrecorded in the markup file MRKUP in the advanced navigation directoryADVNV in FIG. 15. Each control information (command information) to beexecuted upon pressing of each of buttons from the help icon 33 to theFF button 38 is saved in the script file SCRPT in the advancednavigation directory ADVNV in FIG. 15, and the filenames and file savinglocations of these script files SCRPT are described in the markup fileMRKUP (and manifest file MNFST). In FIG. 15, the markup file MRKUP,script file SCRPT, and still picture file IMAGE are recorded in theinformation storage medium DISC. However, this embodiment is not limitedto this, and these files may be saved in the network server NTSRV orpersistent storage PRSTR. In this way, the overall layout andpresentation timing on the window are managed by the playlist PLLST, andthe layout positions and presentation timings of respective buttons andicons are managed by the markup file MRKUP. The playlist PLLST makesdesignation with respect to the markup file MRKUP via the manifest fileMNFST. Video information and commands (scripts) of various icons andbuttons, and command information are stored in independent filescompared to the conventional DVD-Video in which they are stored in avideo object, and undergo middle management using the markup file MRKUP.This structure can greatly facilitate edit and change processing of thecontent producer. As for the telop text message 39 shown in FIG. 4, theplaylist PLLST designates the filename and file saving location of themarkup file MRKUPS of the advanced subtitle via the manifest file MNFSTSof the advanced subtitle (see FIG. 15). The markup file MRKUPS of theadvanced subtitle is recorded not only in the information storage mediumDISC but it can also be saved on the network server NTSRV or persistentstorage PRSTR in this embodiment.

<Playlist> (Again)

Playlist is used for two purposes of Advanced Content playback. The oneis for initial system configuration of a player. The other is fordefinition of how to play plural kind of presentation objects ofAdvanced Content. Playlist consists of following configurationinformation for Advanced Content playback

Object Mapping Information for each Title

-   -   Track Number Assignment    -   Resource Information

Playback Sequence for each Title

Scheduled Control Information for each Title

System Configuration for Advanced Content playback

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, upon playback of the advanced content ADVCT, thereare two use purposes of the playlist PLLST, as will be described below.The first use purpose is to define the initial system structure (advancesettings of the required memory area in the data cache DTCCH and thelike) in the information playback apparatus 1. The second use purpose isto define the playback methods of plural kind of presentation objects inthe advanced content ADVCT. The playlist PLLST has the followingconfiguration information.

1) Object mapping information OBMAPI of each title

Track number assignment

Resource information RESRCI

2) Playback sequence information PLSQI of each title

3) System configuration for playback of the advanced content ADVCT

<Resource Information>

On Object Mapping Information in Playlist, there is information elementwhich specifies when resource files are needed for Advanced Applicationplayback or Advanced Subtitle playback. They are called ResourceInformation. There are two types of Resource Information. The one is theResource Information which is associated to Application. The other isthe Resource Information which is associated to Title.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

An overview of the resource information RESRCI shown in FIG. 14 will bedescribed below. The resource information RESRCI records informationindicating which timings resource files that record information neededto play back the advanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitle ADSBTare to be stored on the data cache DTCCH (file cache FLCCH) in theobject mapping information OBMAPI in the playlist PLLST. In thisembodiment, there are two different types of resource informationRESRCI. The first type of resource information RESRCI is that relatedwith the advanced application ADAPL, and the second type is that relatedwith the advanced subtitle ADSBT.

<Relationship Between Track and Object Mapping>

Each Object Mapping Information of Presentation Object on Title Timelinecan contain Track Number Assignment information in Playlist. Track is toenhance selectable presentation streams through the differentPresentation Objects in Advanced Content. For example, it is possible toselect to play main audio stream in Substitute Audio in addition to theselection of main audio streams in Primary Audio Video. There are fivetypes of Tracks. They are main video, main audio, subtitle, sub videoand sub audio.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The object mapping information OBMAPI corresponding to various objectsto be presented on the title timeline TMLE shown in FIG. 14 includestrack number assignment information defined in the playlist PLLST.

In the advanced content ADVCT of this embodiment, track numbers aredefined to select various streams corresponding to different objects.For example, audio information to be presented to the user can beselected from a plurality of pieces of audio information (audio streams)by designating the track number. As shown in, e.g., FIG. 7, thesubstitute audio SBTAD includes the main audio MANAD, which oftenincludes a plurality of audio streams having different contents. Bydesignating an audio track number defined in advance in the objectmapping information OBMAPI (track number assignment), an audio stream tobe presented to the user can be selected from a plurality of audiostreams. Also, audio information which is recorded as the main audioMANAD in the substitute audio SBTAD can be output to be superposed onthe main audio MANAD in the primary audio video PRMAV. In some cases,the main audio MANAD in the primary audio video PRMAV, which is to besuperposed upon output, often has a plurality of pieces of audioinformation (audio streams) having different contents. In such case, anaudio stream to be presented to the user can be selected from aplurality of audio streams by designating an audio track number which isdefined in advance in the object mapping information OBMAPI (tracknumber assignment).

In the aforementioned track, five different objects, i.e., the mainvideo MANVD, main audio MANAD, subtitle ADSBT, sub video SUBVD, and subaudio SUBAD exist, and these five different objects can simultaneouslyrecord a plurality of streams having different contents. For thisreason, track numbers are assigned to individual streams of these fivedifferent object types, and a stream to be presented to the user can beselected by selecting the track number.

<Information of Explanatory Title, Telop, Etc.>

In this embodiment, there are two methods of displaying information ofthe explanatory title, telop, and the like, i.e., a method of displayingsuch information using the sub-picture SUBPT in the primary audio videoPRMAV and a method of displaying such information using the advancedsubtitle ADSBT. In this embodiment, mapping of the advanced subtitleADBST on the timeline TMLE can be independently defined on the objectmapping information OBMAPI irrespective of, e.g., the mapping situationof the primary audio video PRMAV and the like. As a result, not onlypieces of information such as a title and telop, i.e., the sub-pictureSUBPT in the primary audio video PRMAV and the advanced subtitle ADSBTcan be simultaneously presented, but also their presentation start andend timings can be respectively uniquely set. Also, one of them can beselectively presented, thereby greatly improving the presentationperformance of the subtitle and telop.

In FIG. 14, a part corresponding to the primary audio video PRMAV isindicated by a single band as P-EVOB. In fact, this band includes mainvideo MANVD tracks, main audio MANAD tracks, sub video SUBVD tracks, subaudio SUBAD tracks, and sub-picture SUBPT tracks. Each object includes aplurality of tracks, and one track (stream) is selected and presentedupon presentation. Likewise, the secondary video set SCDVS is indicatedby bands as S-EVOB, each of which includes sub video SUBVD tracks andsub audio SUBAD tracks. Of these tracks, one track (one stream) isselected and presented. If the primary audio video PRMAV alone is mappedon the object mapping information OBMAPI on the title timeline TMLE, thefollowing rules are specified in this embodiment to assure easy playbackcontrol processing.

-   -   The main video stream MANVD shall always be mapped on the object        mapping information OBMAPI and played back.    -   One track (one stream) of the main audio streams MANAD is mapped        on the object mapping information OBMAPI and played back (but it        may not be played back). This embodiment permits to map none of        the main audio streams MANAD on the object mapping information        OBMAPI, regardless of such rule    -   Under the precondition, the sub video stream SUBVD mapped on the        title timeline TMLE is to be presented to the user, but it is        not always presented (by user selection or the like)    -   Under the precondition, one track (one stream) of the sub audio        streams SUBAD mapped on the title timeline TMLE is to be        presented to the user, but it is not always presented (by user        selection or the like).

If the primary audio video PRMAV and the substitute audio SBTAD aresimultaneously mapped on the title timeline TMLE and are simultaneouslypresented, the following rules are specified in this embodiment, thusassuring easy control processing and reliability in the advanced contentplayback unit ADVPL.

-   -   The main video MANVD in the primary audio video PRMAV shall be        mapped in the object mapping information OBMAPI and shall be        necessarily played back    -   The main audio stream MANAD in the substitute audio SBTAD can be        played back in place of the main audio stream MANAD in the        primary audio video PRMAV.    -   Under the precondition, the sub video stream SUBVD is to be        simultaneously presented with given data, but it is not always        presented (by user selection or the like).    -   Under the precondition, one track (one stream) (of a plurality        of tracks) of the sub audio SUBAD is to be presented, but it is        not always presented (by user selection or the like).

When the primary audio video PRMAV and the secondary audio video SCDAVare simultaneously mapped on the title timeline TMLE in the objectmapping information OBMAPI, the following rules are specified in thisembodiment, thus assuring simple processing and high reliability of theadvanced content playback unit ADVPL.

-   -   The main video stream MANVD in the primary audio video PRMAV        shall be played back    -   Under the precondition, one track (one stream) of the main audio        streams MANAD is to be presented, but it is not always presented        (by user selection or the like)    -   The sub video stream SUBVD and sub audio stream SUBAD in the        secondary audio video SCDAV can be played back in place of the        sub video stream SUBVD and sub audio stream SUBAD in the primary        audio video PRMAV. When sub video stream SUBVD and sub audio        stream SUBAD are multiplexed and recorded in the secondary        enhanced video object S-EVOB in the secondary audio video SCDAV,        playback of the sub audio stream SUBAD alone is inhibited.

<Object Mapping Position>

Time code for Title Timeline is ‘Time code’. It is based on non-dropframe and described as HH:MM:SS:FF.

The life period of all presentation objects shall be mapped anddescribed by Time code values onto Title Timeline. Presentation endtiming of audio presentation may not be exactly same as Time codetiming. In this case, the end timing of audio presentation shall berounded up to Video System Time Unit (VSTU) timing from the last audiosample presentation timing. This rule is to avoid overlapping of audiopresentation objects on the time on Title Timeline.

Video presentation timing for 60 Hz region, even if presentation objectis 1/24 frequency, it shall be mapped at 1/60 VSTU timing. For videopresentation timing of Primary Audio Video or Secondary Audio Video, itshall have 3:2 pull-down information in elementary stream for 60 Hzregion, so presentation timing on the Title Timeline is derived fromthis information for video presentation. For graphical presentationtiming of Advanced Application or Advanced Subtitle with 1/24 frequency,it shall follow graphic output timing model in this specification.

There are two conditions between 1/24 timing and 1/60 time code unittiming. The one is exactly matches both timings, and the other ismismatches between them. In case mismatch timing of 1/24 presentationobject frame, it shall be rounded up to the most recent 1/60 time unittiming.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

A method of setting a unit of the title timeline TMLE in this embodimentwill be explained below.

The title timeline TMLE in this embodiment has time units synchronizedwith the presentation timings of frames and fields of video information,and the time on the title timeline TMLE is set based on the count valueof time units. This point is a large technical feature in thisembodiment. For example, in the NTSC system, interlaced display has 60fields and 30 frames per second. Therefore, the duration of a minimumtime unit on the title timeline TMLE is divided into 60 per second, andthe time on the title timeline TMLE is set based on the count value ofthe time units. Also, progressive display in the NTSC system has 60fields=60 frames per second, and matches the aforementioned time units.The PAL system is a 50-Hz system, and interlaced display has 50 fieldsand 25 frames per second, and progressive display has 50 fields=50frames per second. In case of video information of the 50-Hz system, thetitle timeline TMLE is equally divided into 50 units per second, and thetime and timing on the title timeline TMLE is set based on a count valuewith reference to the equally divided one interval ( 1/50 sec). In thismanner, since the reference duration (minimum time unit) of the titletimeline TMLE is set in synchronism with the presentation timings offields and frames of video information, synchronized timing presentationcontrol among respective pieces of video information can be facilitated,and time settings with the highest precision within a practicallysignificant range can be made.

As described above, in this embodiment, the time units are set insynchronism with fields and frames of video information, i.e., one timeunit in the 60-Hz system is 1/60 sec, and one time unit in the 50-Hzsystem is 1/50 sec. At respective time unit positions (times), theswitching timings (presentation start or end timing or switching timingto another frame) of all presentation objects are controlled. That is,in this embodiment, the presentation periods of every presentationobjects are set in synchronism with the time units ( 1/60 sec or 1/50sec) on the title timeline TMLE. The frame interval of audio informationis often different from the frame or field interval of the videoinformation. In such case, as the playback start and end timings of theaudio information, the presentation period (presentation start and endtimes) is set based on timings which are rounded out in correspondencewith the unit interval on the title timeline TMLE. In this way,presentation outputs of a plurality of audio objects can be preventedfrom overlapping on the title timeline TMLE.

When the presentation timing of the advanced application ADAPLinformation is different from the unit interval of the title timelineTMLE (for example, when the advanced application ADAPL has 24 frames persecond and its presentation period is expressed on the title timeline ofthe 60-Hz system), the presentation timings (presentation start and endtimes) of the advanced application ADAPL are rounded out incorrespondence with the title timeline TMLE of the 60-Hz system (timeunit= 1/60 sec).

<Timing Model for Advanced Application>

Advanced Application (ADV APP) consists of one or plural Markup(s) fileswhich can have one-directional or bi-directional links each other,script files which shares a name space belonging to the AdvancedApplication, and Advanced Element files which are used by the Markup(s)and Script(s). Valid period of each Markup file in one AdvancedApplication is the same as the valid period of Advanced Applicationwhich is mapped on Title Timeline. During the presentation of oneAdvanced Application, active Markup is always only one. An active Markupjumps one to another. The valid period one Application is divided tothree major periods; pre-script period, Markup presentation period andpost-script period.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, the valid period of the advanced application ADAPLon the title timeline TMLE can be divided into three periods i.e., apre-script period, markup presentation period, and post-script period.The markup presentation period represents a period in which objects ofthe advanced application ADAPL are presented in correspondence with timeunits of the title timeline TMLE based on information of the markup fileMRKUP of the advanced application ADAPL. The pre-script period is usedas a preparation period of presenting the window of the advancedapplication ADAPL prior to the markup presentation period. Thepost-script period is set immediately after the markup presentationperiod, and is used as an end period (e.g., a period used in releaseprocessing of memory resources) immediately after presentation ofrespective presentation objects of the advanced application ADAPL. Thisembodiment is not limited to this. For example, the pre-script periodcan be used as a control processing period (e.g., to clear the score ofa game given to the user) prior to presentation of the advancedapplication ADAPL. Also, the post-script period can be used in commandprocessing (e.g., point-up processing of the score of a game of theuser) immediately after playback of the advanced application ADAPL.

<Application Sync Model>

There are two kind of application which has following two Sync Models:

Soft-Sync Application

Hard-Sync Application

The information of sync type is defined by sync attribute of applicationsegment in Playlist. In Soft-Sync Application and Hard-Sync Application,the behavior to Title Timeline differs at the time of executionpreparation of application. Execution preparation of application isresource loading and other startup process (such as script global codeexecution). Resource loading is reading resource from storage (DISC,Persistent Storage and Network Server) and store to the File Cache.Every application shall not execute before all resource loading isfinished.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The window during the aforementioned markup presentation period will bedescribed below. Taking the presentation window in FIG. 4 as an example,when the stop button 34 is pressed during presentation of videoinformation in this embodiment, that video information stops, and thewindow presentation of, e.g., changing the shape and color of the stopbutton 34 can be changed. This means the effect of 1.1) “Make responseby means of change in animation and image at the time of buttonselection or execution instruction” in 1] “Make flexible and impressivereactions in response to user's actions” described in the column “Neweffects obtained as a result of technical devices” shown in FIGS. 2A,2B, and 2C. When the display window itself of FIG. 4 is largely changedas in the above example, the corresponding markup file MRKUP jumps toanother markup file MRKUP in the advanced application ADAPL. In thisway, by jumping the markup file MRKUP that sets the presentation windowcontents of the advanced application ADAPL to another markup file MRKUP,the apparent window presentation can be greatly changed. That is, inthis embodiment, a plurality of markup files MRKUP are set incorrespondence with different windows during the markup presentationperiod, and are switched in correspondence with switching of the window(the switching processing is executed based on a method described in thescript file SCRPT). Therefore, the start timing of a markup page on thetitle timeline TMLE during the presentation period of the markup fileMRKUP matches the presentation start timing of the one to be presentedfirst of the plurality of markup files MRKUP, and the end timing of amarkup page on the title timeline TMLE matches the presentation endtiming of the last one of the plurality of markup files MRKUP. As amethod of jumping the markup pages (changing the presentation window ofthe advanced application ADAPL part in the presentation window), thisembodiment specifies the following two sync models.

Soft-Sync Application

Hard-Sync Application

<Soft-Sync Application>

Soft-Sync Application gives preference to seamless proceeding of TitleTimeline over execution preparation. If ‘auto Run’ attribute is ‘true’and application is selected then resources will load into the File Cacheby soft synced mechanism. Soft-Sync Application is activated after thatall resources loading into the File Cache. The resource which cannotread without Title Timeline stopping shall not be defined as a resourceof Soft-Sync Application. In case, Title Timeline jump into the validperiod of Soft-Sync Application, the Application may not execute. Andalso, during the varied period of Soft-Sync Application, playback modechanges trick play to normal playback, the Application may not run.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The first jump method is soft sync jump (jump model) of markup pages. Atthis jump timing, the time flow of the title timeline TMLE does not stopon the window to be presented to the user. That is, the switching timingof the markup page matches that of unit position (time) of theaforementioned title timeline TMLE, and the end timing of the previousmarkup page matches the start timing of the next markup page(presentation window of the advanced application ADAPL) on the titletimeline TMLE. To allow such control, in this embodiment, a time periodrequired to end the previous markup page (e.g. a time period used torelease the assigned memory space in the data cache DTCCH) is set tooverlap the presentation time period of the next markup page.Furthermore, the presentation preparation period of the next markup pageis set to overlap the presentation period of the previous markup page.The soft sync jump of the markup page can be used for the advancedapplication ADAPL or advanced subtitle ADSBT synchronized with the titletimeline TMLE.

<Hard-Sync Application>

Hard-Sync Application gives preference to execution preparation overseamless progress of Title Timeline. Hard-Sync Application is activatedafter all resources loading into the File Cache. If ‘auto Run’ attributeis ‘true’ and application is selected then resources will load into theFile Cache by hard synced mechanism. Hard-Sync Application holds theTitle Timeline during the resource loading and execution preparation ofapplication.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

As the other jump method, this embodiment also specifies hard sync jumpof markup pages. In general, a time change on the title timeline TMLEoccurs on the window to be presented to the user (count-up on the titletimeline TMLE is made), and the window of the primary audio video PRMAVchanges in synchronism with such change. For example, when the time onthe title timeline TMLE stops (the count value on the title timelineTMLE is fixed), the window of the corresponding primary audio videoPRMAV stops, and a still window is presented to the user. When the hardsync jump of markup pages occurs in this embodiment, a period in whichthe time on the title timeline TMLE stops (the count value on the titletimeline TMLE is fixed) is formed. In the hard sync jump of markuppages, the end timing time of a markup page before apparent switching onthe title timeline TMLE matches the playback start timing of the nextmarkup page on the title timeline TMLE. In case of this jump, the endperiod of the previously presented markup page does not overlap thepreparation period required to present the next markup page. For thisreason, the time flow on the title timeline TMLE temporarily stopsduring the jump period, and presentation of, e.g., the primary audiovideo PRMAV or the like is temporarily stopped. The hard sync jumpprocessing of markup pages is used in only the advanced applicationADAPL in this embodiment. In this way, the window change of the advancedsubtitle ADSBT can be made without stopping the time change on the titletimeline TMLE (without stopping, e.g., the primary audio video PRMAV)upon switching the presentation window of the advanced subtitle ADSBT.

The windows of the advanced application ADAPL, advanced subtitle ADSBT,and the like designated by the markup page are switched for respectiveframes in this embodiment. For example, interlaced display, the numberof frames per second is different from that of fields per second.However, when the windows of the advanced application ADAPL and advancedsubtitle ADSBT are controlled to be switched for respective frames,switching processing can be done at the same timing irrespective ofinterlaced or progressive display, thus facilitating control. That is,preparation of a window required for the next frame is started at theimmediately preceding frame presentation timing. The preparation iscompleted until the presentation timing of the next frame, and thewindow is displayed in synchronism with the presentation timing of thenext frame. For example, since NTSC interlaced display corresponds tothe 60-Hz system, the interval of the time units on the title timelineis 1/60 sec. In this case, since 30 frames are displayed per sec, theframe presentation timing is set at an interval of two units (theboundary position of two units) of the title timeline TMLE. Therefore,when a window is to be presented at the n-th count value on the titletimeline TMLE, presentation preparation of the next frame starts at the(n−2)-th timing two counts before, and a prepared graphic frame (awindow that presents various windows related with the advancedapplication ADAPL will be referred to as a graphic frame in thisembodiment) is presented at the timing of the n-th count on the titletimeline TMLE. In this embodiment, since the graphic frame is preparedand presented for respective frames in this way, the continuouslyswitched graphic frames can be presented to the user, thus preventingthe user from feeling odd.

<Presentation Clip Element and Object Mapping Information>

Tide element in Playlist file contains a list of element, called byPresentation Clip element, which describes Object Mapping Information ofthe segment of Presentation Object.

Primary Audio Video Clip element, Substitute Audio Video Clip element,Secondary Audio Video Clip element and Substitute Audio Clip element,Advanced Subtitle Segment element Application Segment elementrespectively describe Object Mapping Information of Primary Audio Video,Secondary Audio Video, Substitute Audio, Advanced Subtitle of AdvancedSubtitle of Advanced Subtitle Profile markup and Advanced Application ofMarkup and Script.

Presentation Object shall be referred by the URI of the indexinformation file as shown in FIG. 21.

Object Mapping Information of a Presentation Object in a Title Timeline,is a valid period of the Presentation Object in a Title Timeline.

The valid period on Title Timeline of a Presentation Object isdetermined by start time and end time on Title Timeline. The start timeand end time on Title Timeline are described by title Time Beginattribute and title Time End attribute of each Presentation Clipelement, respectively. For the Presentation Clip except for AdvancedSubtitle and Application, the starting position of the PresentationObject is described by clip Time Begin attribute of each PresentationClip element.

For Primary Audio Video Clip, Substitute Audio Video Clip, SubstituteAudio Clip and Secondary Audio Video Clip element, the PresentationObject shall be present at the starting position, described by clip TimeBegin.

The clip Time Begin attribute value shall be the presentation start time(PTS) of Coded-Frame of the video streams in P-EVOB (S-EVOB).

Attribute values of titleTimeBegin, titleTimeEnd and clipTimeBegin, andthe duration time of the Presentation Object shall satisfy the followingrelation:titleTimeBegin<titleTimeEnd andtitleTimeEnd<duration time of the Title

If the Presentation Object is synchronized with Title Timeline, thefollowing relation shall be satisfied:clipTimeBegin+titleTimeEnd−titleTimeBegin≦duration time of thePresentation Object

The valid period of Primary Audio Video Clip element shall not overlapeach other on Title Timeline.

The valid period of Secondary Audio Video Clip element shall not overlapeach other on Title Timeline.

The valid period of Substitute Audio Clip element shall not overlap eachother on Title Timeline.

The valid period of Substitute Audio Video Clip element shall notoverlap each other on Title Timeline.

For any of Primary Audio Video Clip element and Substitute Audio VideoClip element, the valid periods on Title Timeline shall not overlap.

For any of Substitute Audio Video Clip element, Secondary Audio VideoClip element and Substitute Audio Clip element, the valid periods onTide Timeline shall not overlap.

For any Presentation Clip element with ‘Disc’ data Source, the validperiods on Title Timeline shall not overlap to those of otherPresentation Clip element with ‘Disc’ data Source.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The object mapping information OBMAPI described in the playlist PLLSTshown in FIG. 14 describes list information of elements calledpresentation clip elements. FIG. 21 shows the relationship betweenvarious presentation clip elements and corresponding object names to bepresented and used.

As shown in FIG. 21, a primary audio video clip element PRAVCP describedin the object mapping information OBMAPI explains object mappinginformation OBMAPI related with the primary audio video PRMAV. Asecondary audio video clip element SCAVCP explains object mappinginformation OBMAPI of the secondary audio video SCDAV. A substituteaudio clip element SBADCP explains object mapping information OBMAPI ofthe substitute audio SBTAD. An advanced subtitle segment element ADSTSGin the object mapping information OBMAPI describes information relatedwith the markup file MRKUPS in the advanced subtitle ADSBT. Anapplication segment element ADAPSG in the object mapping informationOBMAPI describes information related with the markup file MRKUP andscript file SCRPT of the advanced application ADAPL. The object mappinginformation OBMAPI related with each object to be played back and useddescribes information related with the valid period (including apresentation period or a preparation period and end processing period)of each object on the title timeline TMLE. The valid period on the titletimeline TMLE is specified by the start time and end time on the titletimeline TMLE. In each clip element, the start time and end time on thetitle timeline TMLE are specified by a titleTimeBegin attribute andtitleTimeEnd attribute. That is, each clip element individually recordsthe titleTimeBegin attribute and titleTimeEnd attribute. Presentation ofa corresponding object begins from the time described by thetitleTimeBegin attribute on the title timeline TMLE, and ends at thetime described by the titleTimeEnd attribute. In the primary audio videoclip element PRAVCP, secondary audio video clip element SCAVCP, andsubstitute audio clip element SBADCP except for the advanced subtitlesegment element ADSTSG and application segment element ADAPSG, each ofthe primary audio video PRMAV, secondary audio video SCDAV, andsubstitute audio SBTAD begins to be presented by clipTimeBegin whichmeans an presentation elapsed time period calculated from a startposition where each object is recorded. That is, the aforementionedtitleTimeBegin attribute and titleTimeEnd attribute mean timeinformation on the title timeline TMLE. On the other hand, clipTimeBeginmeans an independent time elapse in each object. By synchronizing thetimes of the titleTimeBegin attribute and clipTimeBegin, a plurality ofdifferent objects can be synchronously presented on the same titletimeline TMLE.

Note that various objects to be played back and used are not recorded inthe information storage medium (DISC) but only the playlist (PLLST) isrecorded in the information storage medium (DISC). The informationplayback apparatus may designate and acquire from the correspondingplaylist (PLLST) various objects to be played back and used recorded inthe network server (NTSRV) or persistent storage (PRSTR).

In this embodiment, the following relationship is set among thepresentation period of each presentation object, and titleTimeBegin,titleTimeEnd, and clipTimeBegin to improve the precision of thepresentation processing without producing any conflict amongpresentation timings.titleTimeBegin<titleTimeEnd andtitleTimeEnd<duration time of the TitleclipTimeBegin+titleTimeEnd−titleTimeBegin≦duration time of thePresentation Object

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the presentation precision is improvedby setting the following conditions.

-   -   The valid periods of respective primary audio video clip        elements PRAVCP shall not overlap on the title timeline TMLE.    -   The valid periods of respective secondary audio video clip        elements SCAVCP shall not overlap on the title timeline TMLE.    -   The valid periods of respective substitute audio clip elements        SBADCP shall not overlap on the title timeline TMLE.    -   The valid period of the secondary audio video clip element        SCAVCP shall not overlap that of the substitute audio clip        element SBADCP on the title timeline TMLE.

As shown in FIG. 6, the time map file PTMAP of the primary video setPRMVS, the time map file STMAP of the secondary video set SCDVS, themanifest file MNFST, and the manifest file MNFSTS of the advancedsubtitle ADSBT are referred to from the playlist PLLST.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, the primary audio video clipelement PRAVCP describes the filename and saving location of the timemap file PTMAP of the primary video set PRMVS as the filename to bereferred to in the primary audio video clip element PRAVCP. Likewise,the second audio video clip element SCAVCP describes the filename andsaving location of the time map file STMAP of the secondary video setSCDVS. Furthermore, the substitute audio clip element SBADCP describesthe filename and saving location of the time map file STMAP of thesecondary video set SCDVS. The advanced subtitle segment element ADSTSGdescribes the filename and saving location of the manifest file MNFSTSof the advanced subtitle ADSBT. The application segment element ADAPSGdescribes the filename and saving location of the manifest file MNFST ofthe advanced application ADAPL.

The locations of files to be referred to as indices upon playing backand using objects shown in FIG. 21 are described in FIG. 7. Forreconfirmation, they are described in the column of the original datasources of objects in FIG. 21.

The files which are described in respective clip elements and arereferred to as indices upon playing back and using objects can berecorded in various recording media (including the network serverNTSRV), as shown in FIG. 21. FIG. 16 shows the saving locationdesignation method of the files described in respective clip elements.More specifically, when files are saved in the network server NTSRV, theaddress of an HTTP server or HTTPS server is designated by “http: . . .” or “https: . . . ”, as shown in FIG. 16. In this embodiment, thedescription range of file saving location designation information (URI:Uniform Resource Identifier) described in each clip element shall bedescribed using 1024 bytes or less. When such information is recorded inthe information storage medium DISC, file cache FLCCH (data cacheDTCCH), or persistent storage PRSTR, the file saving location isdesignated as a data file.

When each file is saved in the information storage medium DISC, filecache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH), or persistent storage PRSTR shown inFIG. 16, each medium shall be identified. In this embodiment, eachmedium can be identified by adopting a path designation descriptionmethod shown in FIG. 17 in respective clip elements. This point is alarge technical feature in this embodiment.

<Content Referencing>

Every resource available on the disc or the network has an address thatencoded by a Uniform Resource Identifier.

The following is a URI example which refers to a XML file on a Disc.

file:///dvddisk/ADV_OBJ/file.xmu

The total length of URI shall be less than 1024.

By the ‘file’ URI scheme, URI can refer to the resources on DVD Disccontents, File Cache, and Persistent Storages. There is two type ofPersistent Storage. One is Required Persistent Storage, which all Playershall have only one. The other is Additional Persistent Storage, whichPlayer can have one or more. The path of URI includes storage type andidentifier for Persistent Storage in the following manner.

All Advanced Navigation files (Manifest/Markup/Script) and AdvancedElement files shall be loaded into File Cache by Resource Informationelement in Playlist, or API. All files loaded by Resource Informationelement shall be referred by URI of the original file location, notlocation in the File Cache.

Files in archived file shall be referred by sub path of URI of archivedfile. At this time URI of archived file shall be referred by originallocation, not location in file cache.

The path ‘file:///file cache/’ is resolved as/temp directory in FileCache. For file cache, only application managed directory may beaccessed.

Playlist, Manifest and Markup may use relative URI reference. The baseURI shall be derived from the URI of the original file location, if xml:base attribute is not specified. If xml: base attribute is specified,base URI is determined by rule.

The path-segment “ . . . ” shall not used in URI.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In this embodiment, two different recording media are brought into viewas the persistent storage PRSTR. The first one is the fixed persistentstorage PRSTR, and specifies only one persistent storage drive 3 in theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1 in this embodiment. Theother one is the portable persistent storage PRSTR, and one or morestorages (a plurality of storages are allowed) can be mounted in theinformation recording and playback apparatus 1 in this embodiment. Inthe path designation description to a file, the description method shownin FIG. 17 is specified, and the contents are described in each clipelement in the playlist PLLST. That is, when a file is recorded in theinformation storage medium DISC, “file:///dvddisc/” is described. When afile is stored in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH),“file:///filecache/” is described as the path designation descriptionmethod. When a file is recorded in the fixed persistent storage PRSTR,“file:///fixed/” is described as the path designation descriptionmethod. When a file is recorded in the portable persistent storagePRSTR, “file:///removable/” is described as the path designationdescription method. When various files are recorded in the informationstorage medium DISC, file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH), or persistentstorage PRSTR, the file structure shown in FIG. 15 is formed in eachrecording medium, and files are recorded under correspondingdirectories.

<Playlist File>

Playlist File describes the navigation, the synchronization and theinitial system configuration information for Advanced Content. PlaylistFile shall be encoded as well-formed XML. FIG. 18 shows an outlineexample of Playlist file. The root element of Playlist shall be Playlistelement, which contains Configuration element, Media Attribute Listelement and Title Set element in a content of Playlist element.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

FIG. 18 shows the data structure in the playlist file PLLST that recordsinformation related with the playlist PLLST shown in FIG. 14. Thisplaylist file PLLST is directly recorded in the form of the playlistfile PLLST under the advanced content directory ADVCT, as shown in FIG.15. The playlist file PLLST describes management information,synchronization information among respective presentation objects, andinformation related with the initial system structure (e.g., informationrelated with pre-assignment of a memory space used in the data cacheDTCCH or the like). The playlist file PLLST is described by adescription method based on XML. FIG. 18 shows a schematic datastructure in the playlist file PLLST.

A field bounded by <Playlist[playlist] . . . > and </Playlist> is calleda playlist element in FIG. 18. As information in the playlist element,configuration information CONFGI, media attribute information MDATRI,and title information TTINFO are described in this order. In thisembodiment, the allocation order of various elements in the playlistelement is set in correspondence with the operation sequence before thebeginning of video presentation in the advanced content playback unitADVPL in the information recording and playback apparatus 1 shown inFIG. 1. That is, the assignment of the memory space used in the datacache DTCCH in the advanced content playback unit ADVPL shown in FIG. 13is most necessary in the process of playback preparation. For thisreason, a configuration information CONFGI element 134 is describedfirst in the playlist element. The presentation engine PRSEN in FIG. 13shall be prepared in accordance with the attributes of information inrespective presentation objects. For this purpose, a media attributeinformation MDATRI element 135 shall be described after theconfiguration information CONFGI element 134 and before a titleinformation TTINFO element 136. In this manner, after the data cacheDTCCH and presentation engine PRSEN have been prepared, the advancedcontent playback unit ADVPL starts presentation processing according tothe information described in the title information TTINFO element 136.Therefore, the title information TTINFO element 136 is allocated afterthe information required for preparations (at the last position).

A description 131 of the first line in FIG. 18 is definition text thatdeclares “the following sentences are described based on the XMLdescription method”, and has a structure in which information of xmlattribute information XMATRI is described between “<?xml” and “?>”.

FIG. 22 shows the information contents in the xml attribute informationXMATRI in (a).

The xml attribute information XMATRI describes information indicatingwhether or not another XML having a child relationship withcorresponding version information of XML is referred to. Informationindicating whether or not the other XML having the child relationship isreferred to is described using “yes” or “no”. If the other XML havingthe child relationship is directly referred to in this target text, “no”is described; if this XML text does not directly refer to the other XMLand is present as standalone XML, “yes” is described. As an XMLstatement, for example, when the corresponding version number of XML is1.0, and XML text does not refer to the other XML but is present asstandalone XML, “<?xml version=‘1.0’ standalone=‘yes’ ?>” is describedas a description example (a) of FIG. 22.

Description text in a playlist element tag that specifies the range of aplaylist element describes name space definition information PLTGNM ofthe playlist tag and playlist attribute information PLATRI after“<Playlist”, and closes with “>”, thus forming the playlist element tag.FIG. 22 shows description information in the playlist element tag in(b). In this embodiment, the number of playlist elements which exit inthe playlist file PLLST is one in principle. However, in a special case,a plurality of playlist elements can be described. In such case, since aplurality of playlist element tags may be described in the playlist filePLLST, the name space definition information PLTGNM of the playlist tagis described immediately after “<Playlist” so as to identify eachplaylist element. The playlist attribute information PLATRI describes aninteger part value MJVERN of the advanced content version number, adecimal part value MNVERN of the advanced content version numberinformation, and additional information (e.g., a name or the like)PLDSCI related with the playlist in the playlist element in this order.For example, as a description example, when the advanced content versionnumber is “1.0”, “1” is set in the integer part value MJVERN of theadvanced content version number, and “0” is set in the decimal partvalue MNVERN of the advanced content version number. If the additionalinformation related with the playlist PLLST is “string”, and the namespace definition information PLTGNM of the playlist tag is“http://www.dvdforum.org/HDDVDVideo/Playlist”, the description text inthe playlist element is: “<Playlist xmlns =‘http://www.dvdforum.org/HDDVDVideo/Playlist’ majorVersion = ‘1’minorVersion = ‘0’ description = string>”

The advanced content playback unit ADVPL in the information recordingand playback apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 plays back the advanced contentversion number described in the playlist element tag first, anddetermines if the advanced content version number falls within theversion number range supported by it.

If the advanced content version number falls outside the support range,the advanced content playback unit ADVPL shall immediately stop theplayback processing. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the playlistattribute information PLATRI describes the information of the advancedcontent version number at the foremost position.

Various kinds of information described in the playlist PLLST in thisembodiment have a hierarchical structure, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B,and FIGS. 20A and 20B.

<Title Information>

A Playlist file contains a list of Title elements in the Title Setelement. The Title Set element describes information of a set of Titlesfor Advanced Contents in the Playlist.

Title Timeline is assigned for each Title. The duration of TitleTimeline shall be described by title Duration attribute of Title elementby the time Expression value. The duration of Title Timeline shall begreater than ‘00:00:00:00’.

Note: To describe Title which contains only Advanced Application, setduration to some value such as ‘00:01:00:00’, and pause the time on TideTimeline at the beginning of Title.

The total number of Title shall be less than 1000.

Each Title element describes a set of information of a Title forAdvanced Content.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

In information recorded in the aforementioned playlist file PLLST, thetitle information TTINFO included in the playlist element is describedusing a title set element bounded by <TitleSet> and </TitleSet>, asshown in (b) of FIG. 19A. This title set element describes informationrelated with a title set of the advanced content ADVCT defined in theplaylist PLLST. The title set element describes one or more pieces oftitle element information TTELEM in turn, and management informationrelated with each title is recorded in the corresponding title elementinformation TTELEM. The example of FIG. 14 has three titles, i.e.,titles #1 to #3, and (b) of FIG. 19A describes title element informationTTELEM related with title #1 to that related with title #3. However,this embodiment is not limited to such example, and title elementinformation TTELEM related with one to an arbitrary number of titles canbe described. A title timeline TMLE is set to each title correspondingto the title element information TTELEM. The presentation period of thetitle timeline TMLE of each title is described in titleDurationattribute information (time duration information TTDUR of the entiretitle on the title timeline TMLE) in the title element informationTTELEM. The numbers of corresponding titles are set in accordance withthe order of description of respective pieces of title elementinformation TTELEM described in the title set element. As shown in (b)of FIG. 19A, the title number of a title corresponding to the titleelement information TTELEM described first in the title set element isset to “1”. In this embodiment, the number of pieces of title elementinformation TTELEM (the number of titles defined per playlist PLLST)that can be described in the title set element is set to be 512 or less.By setting the upper limit value of the number of titles, the processingin the advanced content playback unit ADVPL is prevented from diffusing.Each title element information TTELEM describes object mappinginformation OBMAPI, resource information RESRCI, playback sequenceinformation PLSQI, and track navigation information TRNAVI in thisorder. The object mapping information OBMAPI includes information oftrack number assignment information that sets stream (track) numbers inrespective presentation objects. The object mapping informationdescribes a list of various clip elements described using FIGS. 20A and20B. Also, the object mapping information OBMAPI describes a listrelated with track number assignment information which represents thesetting information of track numbers in the aforementioned presentationclip elements. In this embodiment, each playback object such as videoinformation, audio information, sub-picture information, or the like canhave a plurality of streams, independent tracks are related with thesestreams, and track numbers are set, thus identifying playback streams ineach presentation object. By setting the track number assignment elementlist in this way, the number of streams included in each presentationobject and individual streams can be identified. The resourceinformation RESRCI explains a list of resource elements in the titleelement information TTELEM. The track navigation information TRNAVIdescribes information related with a track navigation list element. Theplayback sequence information PLSQI describes information of a chapterlist element indicating the head positions of chapters corresponding todivisions of the video contents in a single title.

As shown in (c) of FIG. 19A, the arrangement order of the object mappinginformation OBMAPI, resource information RESRCI, playback sequenceinformation PLSQI, and track navigation information TRNAVI in the titleelement information TTELEM corresponds to the processing sequence of theadvanced content playback unit ADVPL in the information recording andplayback apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1). That is, information of the objectmapping information OBMAPI which describes the information of theadvanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitle ADSBT used in a singletitle is described at the first location in the title elementinformation TTELEM. The advanced content playback unit ADVPL recognizesthe contents of the advanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitleADSBT used in the single title first from the object mapping informationOBMAPI recorded first. As has been described using FIG. 7, theinformation of the advanced application ADAPL and advanced subtitleADSBT shall be saved in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) inadvance prior to presentation to the user. For this reason, the advancedcontent playback unit ADVPL in the information recording and playbackapparatus 1 requires information related with the advanced applicationADAPL and advanced subtitle ADSBT set in the title and their storagetimings in the file cache FLCCH (data cache DTCCH) prior to playback.The advanced content playback unit ADVPL then reads the resourceinformation RESRCI, and can detect the storage timings of the advancedapplication ADAPL and advanced subtitle ADSBT in the file cache FLCCH(data cache DTCCH). Therefore, since the resource information RESRCI isdescribed after the object mapping information OBMAPI, the processing ofthe advanced content playback unit ADVPL is facilitated. Since theplayback sequence information PLSQI becomes important to allow the userto immediately move video information that he or she wants to see uponplaying back the advanced content ADVCT, the playback sequenceinformation PLSQI is allocated after the resource information RESRCI.Since the track navigation information TRNAVI is information requiredimmediately before presentation to the user, it is described at the lastlocation in the title element information TTELEM.

<Title Element>

The Title element describes information of a Title for AdvancedContents, which consists of Object Mapping Information, Track NumberAssignment for elementary stream and Playback Sequence in a Title.

The content of Title element consists of Chapter List element, TrackNavigation List element, Title Resource element and list of PresentationClip element. Presentation Clip elements are Primary Audio Video Clip,Substitute Audio Video Clip, Substitute Audio Clip, Secondary AudioVideo Clip, Advanced Subtitle Segment and Application Segment.

Presentation Clip elements in Title element describe the Object MappingInformation in the Title.

Presentation Clip elements also describe Track Number Assignment forelementary stream.

Chapter List element describes the information of Playback Sequence inthe Title.

Track Navigation List element describes the information of TrackNavigation Information in the Title.

Title Resource element describes the information of Resource Informationpar Title.

(a) Title Number Attribute

Describes the number of Title. The Title number shall follow theconstraints.

(b) Type Attribute

Describes type of Title. If the content is Interoperable Content andTitle is Original Title, the value shall be ‘Original’. If the contentis Interoperable Content and Title is User Defined Title, the valueshall be ‘User Defined’. Otherwise it shall be omitted, or ‘Advanced’.The value may be omitted. The default value is ‘Advanced’.

(c) Selectable Attribute

Describes whether the Title can be selectable by User Operation, or not.If the value is “false”, the title shall not be navigated by UserOperation. The value may be omitted. The default value is “true”.

(d) Title Duration Attribute

Describes the duration of the Title Timeline. The attribute value shallbe described by time Expression.

The end time of all Presentation Object shall be less than the durationtime of Title Timeline.

(e) Parental Level Attribute

Describes the list of parental level for each country code. Theattribute value shall be described by parental List value. Thisattribute can be omitted. Default value is ‘*: l’.

(f) Tick Base Divisor Attribute

Describes the reducing rate of the Application Ticks to process inAdvanced Application Manager. For example, if tick Base Divisor value is3, Advanced Application Manager shall process one of the threeApplication Ticks, and ignore the rest of them.

(g) On End Attribute

Describes the id attribute value of Title element describing Title to beplayed after end of current Title. This value can be omitted. If thisvalue is omitted, player shall be stopped after Title playback.

(h) Display Name Attribute

Describes the name of Title in the human consumable text form. Playermay display this name as title name. This attribute can be omitted.

(i) Alternative SD Display Mode Attribute

Describes the permitted display modes on 4:3 monitor in this Titleplayback. ‘pan scan Or Letter box’ allows both Pan-scan and Letterbox,‘pan scan’ allows only Pan-scan, and ‘letterbox’ allows only Letterboxfor 4:3 monitor. Player shall output into 4:3 monitor forcedly inallowed display modes. This attribute can be omitted. The default valueis ‘pan scan Or Letter box’.

(j) Description Attribute

Describes additional information in the human consumable text form. Thisattribute can be omitted.

(k) Xml: Base Attribute

Describes the base URI in this element. The semantics of xml:base shallfollow to XML Base.

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

FIGS. 20A and 20B show information described in the title element tagthat represents the start of each title element information TTELEM inthis embodiment. The title element tag describes ID information TTIDI ofa title used to identify each title first. Next, selectable attributeinformation is described. This selectable attribute informationindicates selection information as to whether or not the designatedtitle can be operated in response to user operations. For example, incase of the system shown in FIG. 1, the user may oppose the wide-screenTV monitor 15 and may perform screen operations (e.g., fast-forwardingFF or first-rewinding FR) using a remote controller (not shown).Processing designated by the user in this way is called a useroperation, and the selectable attribute information indicates whether ornot the title is processed in response to user operations. In thisinformation, a word of either “true” or “false” is described. Forexample, when the video contents of the corresponding title, i.e., thecommercial 44 and preview 41 are not allowed to be fast-forwarded by theuser, the entire corresponding title may be set to inhibit useroperations. In such case, the selectable attribute information is set to“false” to inhibit user operations with respect to the correspondingtitle, thus rejecting requests such as fast-forwarding, fast-rewinding,and the like by the user. When this value is “true”, user operations aresupported, and processing (user operations) such as fast-forwarding,fast-rewinding, and the like can be executed in response to user'srequests. In this embodiment, the default value of the selectableattribute information is set to “true” The title playback processingmethod of the advanced content playback unit ADVPL (see FIG. 1) largelychanges depending on the selectable attribute information. Therefore, byallocating the selectable attribute information at a positionimmediately after the title ID information TTIDI and after other kindsof information, the convenience of the processing of the advancedcontent playback unit ADVPL can be improved. In this embodiment, adescription of the selectable attribute information can be omitted inthe title element tag. When the description of this information isomitted, it is set as a default value “true”.

Frame rate information represents the number of frames per sec of videoinformation to be presented on the screen, and corresponds to areference time interval of the title timeline TMLE. As has beendescribed using FIG. 14, in this embodiment, two systems, i.e., the50-Hz system (50 counts are counted up per sec on the title timelineTMLE) and 60-Hz system (60 counts are counted up per sec on the titletimeline TMLE) can be set as the title timeline TMLE. For example, incase of NTSC interlaced display, 30 frames (60 fields) are displayed persec. This case corresponds to 60-Hz system, and a unit interval (timeinterval of one count of the title timeline is set to 1/60 sec.

Time duration information TTDUR of the entire title on the titletimeline TMLE represents the duration of the entire title timeline TMLEon the corresponding title. The time duration information TTDUR of theentire title on the title timeline TMLE is described using the totalnumber of counts of the 50-Hz system or 60-Hz system corresponding tothe frame rate (number of frames per sec) information. For example, whenthe presentation time of the corresponding entire title is n sec, avalue “60n” or “50n” is set in the total number of counts as the timeduration information TTDUR of the entire title on the title timelineTMLE. In this embodiment, the end times of all playback objects shall besmaller than the time duration information TTDUR of the entire title onthe title timeline TMLE. In this manner, since the time durationinformation TTDUR of the entire title on the title timeline TMLE dependson the time unit interval on the title timeline TMLE, it is allocatedbehind the frame rate information, thus assuring easy data processing ofthe advanced content playback unit ADVPL.

Next parental level information indicates a parental level of thecorresponding title to be played back.

A numeral equal to or smaller than 8 is entered as the parental levelvalue. In this embodiment, this information may be omitted in the titleelement tag. A default value of this information is set to “1”.

Information “onEnd” that represents the number information of a title tobe presented after completion of the current title describes informationof the title number related with the next title to be played back aftercompletion of the current title. When a value set in the title number is“0”, the window is kept paused (to present the end window) aftercompletion of the title. A default value of this information is set to“0”. A description of this information can be omitted in the titleelement tag, and in such case, that information is set to “0” as adefault value.

Title name information “displayName” to be displayed by the informationrecording and playback apparatus 1 describes the name of thecorresponding title in a text format. Information described in thisinformation can be displayed as the title name of the informationrecording and playback apparatus 1. Also, this information can beomitted in the title element tag.

Furthermore, the column of additional information (description) relatedwith a title describes additional information related with the title ina text format. A description of this information can be omitted in thetitle element tag. The title name information (displayName) to bedisplayed by the information recording and playback apparatus 1 andadditional information (description) related with the title are notessential upon executing the playback processing of the advanced contentplayback unit ADVPL. Therefore, these pieces of information are recordedat the last location in title attribute information TTATRI.

As a practical information example of the title element tag, forexample, when the identification ID information of a title is “Ando” andthe time duration of the entire title in the 60-Hz system is 80000, adescription example is:

<Title=‘Ando’ titleDuration=“80000”>

In the 60-Hz system, since the number of counts of the title timelineTMLE is counted up by 60 per sec, the value “80000” amounts to 22 min(≈80000÷60÷60).

Information in the title element information TTELEM includes the objectmapping information OBMAPI that describes a presentation clip elementlist, the resource information RESRCI that records a title resourceelement, the playback sequence information PLSQI that describes achapter list element, and the track navigation information TRNAVI thatdescribes a track list navigation list element, as shown in (c) of FIG.19A. The presentation clip elements describe the primary audio videoclip PRAVCP, substitute audio clip SBADCP, secondary audio video clipSCAVCP, advanced subtitle segment ADSTSG, and application segmentADAPSG, as shown in (c) of FIG. 20B. The presentation clip elements aredescribed in the object mapping information OBMAPI in each title. Thepresentation clip elements are described as a part of track numberassignment information in correspondence with each elementary stream.

The playback sequence information PLSQI is described as a list ofchapter list elements, as shown in (d) of FIG. 20B.

<Chapter Elements and Playback Sequence Information>

Title element in Playlist file contains a list of Chapter elements in aChapter List element. Chapter List element describes chapter structure,called by Playback Sequence Information.

The Chapter List element consists of a list of Chapter element.According to the document order of Chapter element in Chapter List, theChapter number for Advanced Navigation shall be assigned continuouslyfrom ‘1’.

The total number of chapters in a Title shall be less than 2000.

The total number of chapters in a Playlist shall be less than 100000.

The title Time Begin attribute of Chapter element describes the chapterstart position by the time value on the Title Timeline. Chapter endposition is given as the next chapter start position or the end of theTitle Timeline for the last chapter.

The chapter start position in a Title Timeline shall be monotonicallyincreased according to the chapter number, and be less than or equals tothe duration of Title Timeline. The chapter start position of chapter 1shall be 00:00:00:00.

The following description is an example of Playback Sequence.<ChapterList> <Chapter titleTimeBegin=“00:00:00:00”/> <ChaptertitleTimeBegin=“00:01:02:00”/> <Chapter titleTimeBegin=“00:02:01:03”/><Chapter titleTimeBegin=“00:04:02:30”/> <ChaptertitleTimeBegin=“00:05:21:22”/> <Chapter titleTimeBegin=“00:06:31:23”/></ChapterList>

More intelligible explanations will be provided below.

The chapter list element in the playback sequence information PLSQIdescribes a chapter structure in the title. The chapter list element isdescribed as a list of chapter elements (respective lines starting witha <Chapter titleTimingBegin> tag, as shown in (d) of FIG. 20B). Thenumber of a chapter element described first in the chapter list is setto “1”, and the chapter numbers are set in accordance with the order ofdescription of respective chapter elements. The number of chapters inone chapter list (title) is set to be 512 or less, thus preventingdiffusion in the processing of the advanced content playback unit ADVPL.A titleTimingBegin attribute (information described after “<ChaptertitleTimingBegin>=”) in each chapter element represents time information(the number of counts on the title timeline TMLE) indicating the startposition of each chapter on the title timeline. The end position of thecurrent chapter is represented by the start position of the nextchapter. The end position of the last chapter is interpreted as the lastvalue (count value) on the title timeline TMLE. The time information(count value) indicating the start position of each chapter on the titletimeline TMLE shall be set to be monotonously increased incorrespondence with increments of chapter number. With this setting,sequence jump access control according to the playback order of chaptersis facilitated.

In the description of the aforementioned embodiment, at least some ofvarious objects to be played back and used are recorded in theinformation storage medium (DISC). However, the invention is not limitedto this. For example, the information storage medium (DISC) may recordonly management information (e.g., only the playlist (PLLST)), and allobjects to be played back and used may be stored in the network server(NTSRV) (or persistent storage (PRSTR)). Using that managementinformation, the information playback apparatus may access the networkserver (NTSRV) or the like via the network as needed to acquire variousobjects to be played back and used stored in the network server (NTSRV)or the like so as to execute playback processing and the like.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the invention, atleast the following demands can be satisfied:

1. Realization of flexible and diversified expression formats likecomputer window;

2. Realization of flexible responses to various actions via network; and

3. Realization of easy processing of video related information and easytransmission of information after processing.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

1. An information storage medium storing data, the data comprising: anenhanced video object set which is a collection of enhanced videoobjects including data on video, audio, and sub-picture, the enhancedvideo object set being included in a video title set corresponding toone title; management information used to manage the title; and objectmapping information which gives playback information for said enhancedvideo objects, by mapping said enhanced video objects on a titletimeline, the object mapping information being included in themanagement information.
 2. The medium according to claim 1, wherein: thedata comprises an advanced content; the advanced content includes aplaylist as the management information, primary video set, secondaryvideo set, advanced application, and advanced subtitle; the titletimeline is defined in the playlist.
 3. The medium according to claim 2,wherein commercial information is defined in the playlist to be playedback in association with playback of the enhanced video objects.
 4. Aninformation transfer method, comprising: transferring at least anenhanced video object from an information storage medium storing anenhanced video object set which is a collection of said enhanced videoobjects including data on video, audio, and sub-picture, the enhancedvideo object set being included in a video title set corresponding toone title, management information used to manage the title, and objectmapping information which gives playback information for said enhancedvideo object, by mapping said enhanced video object on a title timeline,the object mapping information being included in the managementinformation; and displaying the transferred information on a display. 5.An information playback method, comprising: reading out managementinformation from an information storage medium storing an enhanced videoobject set which is a collection of enhanced video objects includingdata on video, audio, and sub-picture, the enhanced video object setbeing included in a video title set corresponding to one title, saidmanagement information used to manage the title, and object mappinginformation which gives playback information for said enhanced videoobjects, by mapping said enhanced video object on a title timeline, theobject mapping information being included in the management information;and playing back said enhanced video objects.
 6. An informationrecording method, comprising: acquiring an enhanced video object setwhich is a collection of enhanced video objects including data on video,audio and sub-picture, the enhanced video object set being included in avideo title set corresponding to one title, management information usedto manage the title, and object mapping information which gives playbackinformation for said enhanced video objects, by mapping said enhancedvideo object on a title timeline, the object mapping information beingincluded in the management information; and recording the acquiredinformation in an information storage medium.